I recently spoke with a concerned mother named Katrina and her daughter Claire. We discussed Alexander “Alex” Kruck, their missing family member. I recently did an episode about Alex for the Catch my Killer podcast. As part of the podcast and this week’s column, I wanted to share Alex’s story. Alex’s family feel as if they are on their own in trying to find Alex. They don’t think the Milwaukee Police Department is taking the case seriously.
Born in Illinois, Alex Kruck spent most of his childhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
His mother described him as the most beautiful baby ever. Her description of him included big brown eyes and curly hair.
Alex seemed like any other teenager. There was a close bond between him and his family, and he participated in school athletics. Katrina told me he loved baseball and threw a 95-mile-per-hour fastball.
With an arm like that, baseball scouts would surely be interested. Apparently, Alex began hanging around questionable people, leading him to a destructive lifestyle. The carefree teenager who loved his family was no longer there. His mother said her little boy was gone. She no longer recognized him.
Alex became addicted to drugs and stopped attending school. He stopped following household rules and began to stay out late. Several times, Alex’s family placed him in rehab. However, nothing worked. Alex continued living a reckless lifestyle and sank deeper into darkness.
Alex posted on social media and kept in touch with his family regularly. According to his mother, he would become angry and stop speaking to her, but he would never stop speaking to his siblings. The Charley Project reports that Alex was last seen on July 20, 2020. This was the last time he posted on social media. Alex’s family said the last time anyone heard from him was on August 6, 2020.
When Claire reported her brother missing to Milwaukee Law Enforcement, they told her he was probably couch surfing somewhere. According to family, because of Alex’s drug problems and transient lifestyle, law enforcement may not have used too many resources to find him.
The family hasn’t had much luck finding anyone willing to share any information about Alex. One friend claimed Alex had met someone online and had discussed going to Mexico to meet her. The problem with that story is Alex had no money, passport, or transportation. So how would he have even left Milwaukee?
His family doesn’t think he ever left Milwaukee. I asked Katrina and Claire if either thought Alex might still be alive. Claire believes Alex is deceased while Katrina refuses to believe her son is deceased until she receives proof.
As of July 27, 2022, 133 people have been murdered in Milwaukee. It could surpass last year’s homicide total. Since 2019, the homicide rate has steadily risen over the past few years.
In 2019, there were 97 homicides, 190 in 2020, and 194 in 2021. And there are over 120 people missing from Milwaukee. Alex is one of these missing people. It’s even possible that Alex could one day be included in a homicide statistic.
So where is Alex Kruck? He was last seen in the area of 1900 West Finn Place in Milwaukee. Is he alive or deceased? No one knows for sure and if they do, they aren’t talking. Alex didn’t vanish into thin air. Someone knows what happened to him. Could it be you? If you know anything, please help his family.
Alex is described as a white male, 6’ tall, weighing 175 lbs., with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
If you have any information on Alexander’s whereabouts, please contact the Milwaukee police at 414-935-7401. And if you would like more information about Alex’s story, please visit the Find Alex Kruck Facebook page.
Marc is a longtime resident of Clermont County and an avid reader. Contact him through his website at www.themarcabe.com or through Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themarcabe or his Twitter account @themarcabe. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer where he interviews family members seeking justice for their murdered loved ones. You can listen at www.catchmykiller.com.