Missing grandfather located in Cedar Rapids, 4-year-old still not found

A 75-year-old man who was reported missing earlier this week has been located at his residence and is safe, authorities said Friday.

Police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said officers were notified around 6:15 p.m. Thursday that Henry N. Ricklefs had returned to his apartment on 16th Avenue SW. An officer confirmed he was there and was not hurt.

"He said he had gone away for the weekend and had lost his bus pass," Hamblin said.

Family members reported Ricklefs and his granddaughter, 4-year-old Natasha R. Zieser, missing on Tuesday. Some relatives believed they were both with Natasha's mother, Linda Ricklefs, and were possibly headed out of state.

Natasha has not been seen since 10 a.m. Saturday, family members said.

Natasha's aunt, Lisa Jordan, 43, of Cedar Rapids, said Friday morning she had just learned that her father had been found and had not yet spoken to him. She said police told her to wait to communicate with her father until a detective had a chance to interview him.

Jordan said she still believes her sister is with Natasha.

"They can't be very far away," Jordan said. "They must be in the area."

Anyone with information about Natasha Zieser's whereabouts is asked to call police at (319) 286-5491.