A beloved Kansas elementary school teacher who passed out after a night out has been found dead in a wooded area, buried under snow from a powerful winter storm that swept much of the country over the weekend.
Rebecca Rauber was last seen leaving the Town Royal bar in downtown Emporia on Friday. Her body was discovered covered in snow on Sunday (Aware Foundation/Facebook)
The Emporia Police Department confirmed that 28-year-old Rebecca Rauber was discovered Sunday after a two-day search that began after she failed to return home Friday night.
Rauber, a second grade teacher at Riverside Elementary School, was last seen leaving the Town Royal bar in downtown Emporia around 11:30 pm Friday. Her family said she left behind her phone, keys, jacket and purse.
Surveillance footage showed Rauber walking west on Fifth Avenue before heading north on Neosho Street around 11:37 p.m., police said. Additional video later placed her in the 700 block of West Fourth Avenue around 11:44 pm
During their search on Sunday, officers found a dead woman about 300 yards south of where Rauber was last seen on video. The Police confirmed that the woman was Rauber.
Rebecca Rauber was last seen leaving the Town Royal bar in downtown Emporia on Friday. Her body was discovered covered in snow on Sunday (Aware Foundation/Facebook)
“Rebecca was found approximately 300 yards south of West 4th Avenue, where she was last seen on video. Rebecca was located in a wooded area,” police said in a statement.
“At this time, it appears, Rebecca may have succumbed to hypothermia early in her disappearance as she was covered in snow from the severe snowstorm on Saturday, January 24.”
Police said that members of Rauber’s family have been notified.
“We want to thank our community for the execution of care and assistance during this situation,” said the police in a statement.
Police say they believe Rauber may have died of hypothermia early in her disappearance as she was covered in snow from the blizzard (Aware Foundation)
“We also want to thank KHP, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Search and Rescue, and the Lyon County Communications Center for their efforts in trying to locate Rebecca. All of the agencies listed poured in many man hours, involving many resources, in hopes of a positive outcome. Our hearts and prayers are truly with the Rauber family.”
Emporia Public Schools released a statement following the news of Rauber’s death, saying the district will provide counselors and support teams for students and staff.
District officials also asked the community and the media to respect the family’s privacy while they grieve.