A Kansas community is in mourning after a Kansas teacher was found dead amid a dangerous winter storm. Authorities sadly found 28-year-old elementary school teacher Rebecca Rauber deceased amid the frigid temperatures.
This comes after a multi-day search amid a winter storm no less to find the school grade teacher. Rauber was a second-grade teacher at Riverside Elementary School in Emporia. On January 23, she disappeared after leaving the Town Royal bar on foot. It quickly became apparent that she would be in trouble.
Rauber left without her phone, purse, or jacket. She never made it home. According to The New York Post, authorities managed to trace the Kansas school teacher's movements using surveillance footage. Rauber exited the bar around midnight. Conditions were not great with temperatures in the single digits and also a wind chill in the negatives.
Sadly, the school teacher made it just 300 yards from her last known location. A K-9 team found her body. Police believe that she passed away from hypothermia.
Teacher Disappears
"Not the outcome that we had all hoped and prayed for. But our thoughts and prayers are with that family," Emporia Police Chief Edward Owens also told KWCH. "Just wish we could have found her a little sooner."
The Emporia Public School District also said the loss of the school teacher "felt deeply across our district."
"Our hearts are with Ms. Rauber's family, friends, students, and all who were touched by her life and dedication to education. She was a valued member of our school community, and her loss is felt deeply across our district," the district said in a press release, according to KVOE. "At this time, we are focused on supporting our students and staff as they process this difficult news. Counselors and district support teams will be available at our schools to provide care and assistance for anyone who may need it."
The school teacher is one of 13 people who died during the winter storm.
