Rebecca Rauber, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher, was found dead on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, under a blanket of snow in a wooded area of Emporia, Kansas. She had disappeared on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, after an intense winter storm brought hazardous low temperatures and heavy snowfall to the region on Saturday, Jan. 24.
Rauber was located nearly 300 yards south of West 4th Avenue, close to the location where security footage last recorded her walking alone in the early hours of Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. The discovery was made by K-9 Daisy from K-9 Search and Rescue Kansas, following an exhaustive search operation.
“Not the outcome that we had all hoped and prayed for, but our thoughts and prayers are with that family,” remarked Emporia Police Chief Edward Owens while confirming the unfortunate discovery. “Just wish we could have found her a little sooner.”
Rauber is believed to have succumbed to hypothermia early on in her disappearance following her departure from the Town Royal bar. She left on foot without her purse, phone, or jacket. Rauber was last spotted exiting the bar located at 405 Commercial Street at around 11:30 p.m. on the 23rd.
The video showed her walking west on West 5th Avenue, and then north on Neosho Street from West 5th Avenue around 11:37 p.m. Further footage uncovered during the investigation identified Rauber in the 700 block of West 4th Avenue at roughly 11:44 p.m. on the same day.
The search for Rauber started immediately after she was reported missing. Officers from the Emporia Police Department made use of business surveillance cameras across the downtown area and collaborated with the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.
Rauber’s disappearance coincided with a heavy snowstorm that hit the area on Saturday, Jan. 24, leading to perilous conditions. Temperatures fell to 3 degrees and wind chills dropped to minus 13 degrees, posing a serious risk to anyone exposed outdoors without suitable protection.
The storm was part of Winter Storm Fern, a massive weather system that affected over 40 states and was linked to more than 80 deaths nationwide, according to multiple news reports.
An autopsy will determine the official cause and a more accurate time of death. Police Chief Edward Owens stated that autopsy and toxicology reports may take several weeks to be finalized. The family of Rauber was informed about the discovery.
Rauber was a second-grade teacher at Riverside Elementary in the USD 253 Emporia Public Schools district. She had recently completed a master’s degree in instructional specialist from Emporia State University in spring 2025 and also held two bachelor’s degrees from the same university in 2020—one in elementary education and another in modern languages with a concentration in Spanish.
In a statement released by the school district, it expressed their deep sorrow over the loss and mentioned that counselors would be available for students and staff as they deal with the incident.
The Emporia Police Department appreciated the extensive assistance received during the search operation. Multiple agencies had committed significant manpower and resources in the hope of a favorable outcome. The coordinated effort comprised ground searches, K-9 units, and a systematic review of surveillance footage from businesses and residences in the search area.
The investigation into Rauber’s death is ongoing.