In the quiet town of Holdrege, Nebraska, a deeply unsettling case has rocked the local community and drawn statewide attention. On October 24, 2025, authorities arrested Elizabeth Love, a 36-year-old transition coordinator and teacher of the deaf at Education Service Unit 11 (ESU-11), and her boyfriend, Jarid “Jack” Krause, 43, on charges of sex trafficking a minor. Love faces an additional count of sexual grooming by a school employee, according to the Holdrege Police Department and corroborated by multiple news outlets including PEOPLE and Nebraska TV.
The investigation began after a high school student, currently enrolled in one of the schools overseen by ESU-11, reported a series of inappropriate interactions with Love and Krause over the preceding weeks. The student, who has worked with Love since seventh grade, described a relationship that had grown far more personal and intrusive than the typical boundaries between educator and pupil. The Holdrege Police Department, in a public statement, confirmed that the student’s report set off a chain of events leading to the couple’s arrest.
According to a detailed arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, the first red flag surfaced on October 14, 2025, when a Holdrege police officer received a report of possible sexual abuse involving a 16-year-old student. During a forensic interview, the student explained that her connection with Love had evolved to include discussions about her personal life, well beyond the expected scope of a speech therapist or educational coordinator.
One of the most disturbing incidents allegedly occurred in August 2025. The student recalled sitting in Love’s car and overhearing a phone conversation between Love and Krause. During the call, Krause allegedly expressed his desire to have sex with Love, after which Love reportedly told the student she "would be willing to share" him. The situation made the student so uncomfortable that she called her aunt to pick her up, abandoning plans to attend the State Fair with Love that day.
Another critical incident took place on October 11, 2025. Love picked up the student from her home and drove her to Love’s own residence. There, according to the student’s account in the affidavit, Krause led her to an upstairs bedroom and made a request the student interpreted as a proposition for sex. The student declined and asked to leave, which Krause allowed. Security camera footage later reviewed by investigators showed the student walking away from the house, with Love following her in a vehicle. Eventually, the student got into Love’s car and was driven home.
Investigators also uncovered a series of text messages between Love and the student, including one where Love asked the student to "come back and talk to me." The affidavit noted that Love apologized to the student, told her not to tell anyone about the incident, and gave her $100 in $20 increments. Love later told law enforcement that the money was not meant as “hush money,” but rather as a gift to help the student purchase a new cell phone. However, the student’s account and the context of the messages raised serious concerns for investigators.
Further evidence, detailed in the affidavit and reported by Nebraska TV, included text messages exchanged between Love and Krause dating back to April 2025. These messages suggested the pair had been planning to proposition the student for sex, with Love writing about seeing "if she’s not feeling it" and discussing the idea of using a "code phrase" to gauge the student’s interest. In another exchange, Love remarked, "if she doesn’t want to, then I’ll keep looking," to which Krause responded about "finding our person." The two even discussed the possibility of starting foster care paperwork, with Krause expressing concern about the risks: "It’s a huge risk. We might not find the right girl for us." Love replied, "I know. But I also don’t have to take them all. Even though I want to. Haha."
ESU-11, the agency where Love worked, promptly placed her on administrative leave following the allegations. As noted by KSNB, ESU-11 oversees multiple public schools in southern Nebraska, heightening the community’s alarm over the breach of trust by an educator in such a sensitive role. The Holdrege Police Department has urged anyone with information about the case, or prior interactions with Love or Krause that seem unusual or suspicious, to come forward. "Anyone with any additional information about Ms. Love and/or Mr. Krause, that may be pertinent to this case or prior contacts with either of them that they now find to be unusual or suspicious, are urged to contact the Holdrege Police Department at (308) 995-4407," the department stated.
Both Love and Krause are currently being held in the Phelps County Jail on $250,000 cash bonds. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment and mandatory lifetime registration as sex offenders. Their first court appearance is scheduled for Monday, October 27, 2025.
The case has emerged against a broader backdrop of concern about human trafficking in Nebraska. In August 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) dismantled a separate human trafficking ring in Omaha, rescuing 27 victims—including 10 children under the age of 12—from squalid conditions in motels and salons. "Our brave ICE law enforcement rescued these children and women who were being sexually exploited and trafficked," said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement. The operation, supported by the Department of Homeland Security, underscored the ongoing threat of trafficking in the region, though the Holdrege case is not directly connected to the Omaha ring.
The allegations against Love and Krause have sent shockwaves through Holdrege and neighboring communities, prompting introspection about the vulnerabilities of students and the responsibilities of educators. While the investigation continues, police have emphasized that, so far, they are not aware of any other inappropriate interactions with students. However, they remain vigilant and open to new information as the community grapples with the implications of the charges.
For those who suspect child abuse or have been victims of sexual abuse, resources are available. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453), and the Crisis Text Line can be accessed by texting "STRENGTH" to 741-741. Both services are confidential and available around the clock, offering support in over 170 languages.
As Holdrege awaits the court proceedings, the case stands as a grim reminder of the importance of vigilance, transparency, and support systems within educational institutions—especially when the safety and well-being of children are at stake.
