WASECA, Minn. — It was four years ago that Jerry Krause took his last plane ride through the continent of Africa. Long assumed dead, there is hope that Krause may be alive and could be reunited with his loved ones in the United States.
Living in Waseca, Minnesota, Krause and his wife left the states to serve as missionaries to Africa for more than two decades with Mission Aviation Fellowship.
In April 2013, Krause went missing. He was headed to Mali from South Africa when his plane disappeared.
According to CBN News, Krause made one final call to his wife Gina before he left stating he had engine trouble, but neither the plane or wreckage was ever located.
Newsweek reports Krause’s last known communication went to a control tower in São Tomé where he refueled his plane.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority ruled Krause dead due to a plane crash.
Shortly after he disappeared, his family set up a Facebook page simply titled, “Find Jerry.”
Four years later, on August 24, the family announced that Krause had been found. The South African Civil Aviation Authority withdrew their original report due to new evidence. The family claims Krause has been found by U.S. authorities at the Department of Defense.
“Jerry has been seen and found to be alive,” the status update states. “The U.S. government knows Jerry’s location. However, the Department of Defense (DoD) has not had the correct authorization to act on this information.”
“We’re ready,” Krause’s daughter Jessica told WCCO. “We’re tired. It’s just been a long time.”
The family implored social media users to call their representatives to push the Trump administration into giving the DoD authorization to rescue Krause.
“Jerry and his family have been in our hearts and prayers these past four years,” Dianna Gibney, the communications officer with Mission Aviation Fellowship told Alpha News. “We hope these new reports prove to be true and that he will soon be back with those who love him.”
Preya Samsundar
Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.
