Emporia Police Chief Ed Owens tells KVOE News there were no signs of foul play in this past weekend’s death of Rebecca Rauber.
Owens countered some of the criticism that has developed since Saturday, with several people criticizing the early stages of the investigation and others saying Rauber could not have ended up where she was found by herself.
The weekend investigation involved several internal and external partners.
Owens also thanked residents for their willingness to help law enforcement, whether through tips, photos, videos or search parties — an effort that didn’t develop, although it was mentioned Sunday morning.
Rauber was a second-grade teacher at Riverside Elementary School. USD 253 Director of Community Relations Lyndel Landgren says Rauber “was a valued member of our school community, and her loss is felt deeply across our district.” Counselors and support staff will be available at schools once classes resume Tuesday.
Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking credited investigators for their work as the weekend unfolded.
Service arrangements are currently pending. Officers are still investigating. Owens says more information will come from the autopsy and toxicology reports, but it may take several weeks for that information to be finalized.
6:30 am Monday: Prayer service Monday for Rebecca Rauber
A night of prayer has been created to honor the memory of Rebecca Rauber, the Emporia woman found dead Sunday after being listed as missing during brutally cold conditions earlier in the weekend.
Residents are encouraged to gather at 5 pm at Emporia Church of Christ, 502 West 12th.
Rauber had spent about 30 minutes at Town Royal late Friday night before leaving the tavern without her jacket, cell phone or purse. Temperatures were in the single digits with wind chills approaching -15 when she left. Wind chills stayed at -10 or lower into Sunday morning. Emporia Police officers say Rauber was found in a wooded area near the 700 block of West Fourth, near an area where she had last been seen on video footage. Officers used used search dog Saturday along K-9 units from K-9 Search and Rescue of Kansas and a drone Sunday to help with the search, and there had been plans for a community search effort but that was canceled. Officers currently say Rauber may have developed hypothermia shortly after leaving Town Royal.
Rauber was a second-grade teacher at Riverside Elementary School. USD 253 Director of Community Relations Lyndel Landgren says Rauber “was a valued member of our school community, and her loss is felt deeply across our district.” Counselors and support staff will be available at schools once classes resume Tuesday.
Service arrangements are currently pending. Officers are still investigating.
8:15 pm Sunday: USD 253 Emporia issues statement following passing of teacher Rebecca Rauber Sunday
USD 253 Emporia Public Schools has offered its condolences to the family and friends of teacher Rebecca Rauber, who passed away over the weekend.
A news release from the district, released shortly after Rauber’s death was confirmed by Emporia Police early Sunday evening, stated: “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. 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.”
Rauber was a second-grade teacher at Riverside Elementary School who was reported missing early Saturday morning after leaving Town Royal bar in the 400 block of Commercial Street around 11:30 pm Friday. Search efforts began Saturday and concluded late Sunday afternoon when EPD located Rauber’s body in a wooded area 300 yards south of West 4th Avenue, the location she had last been seen on video footage.
An investigation is currently underway into Rauber’s death; however, preliminary findings indicate she may have succumbed to hypothermia shortly after she left the bar Friday evening. According to weather reports, air temperatures were around 3 degrees with a wind chill of -13 at the time she reportedly left the establishment.
KVOE will have further updates as they are made available.
5:50 pm Sunday: Missing Emporia woman found deceased Sunday
28-year-old Emporia teacher Rebecca Rauber has been found deceased nearly two days after she went missing from downtown Emporia.
Emporia Police issued a news release early Sunday evening stating they had “recovered a deceased female approximately 300 yards from where Rebecca Rauber was last seen on video,” south of West 4th Avenue, located in a wooded area. An investigation is underway; however, initial indications are that Rauber succumbed to hypothermia shortly after disappearing around 11:30 pm Friday from Town Royal in the 400 block of Commercial Street.
Emporia Police were assisted in the search by K9 Daisy and her team from Search and Rescue Kansas. EPD was also assisted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and Lyon County Emergency Communications.
Emporia Police extended its appreciation to the local community and residents for their “outpouring of care and assistance” throughout the search.
11 am Sunday: Search continues for missing Emporia woman following disappearance late Friday into early Saturday
The search continues for a woman missing from Emporia since the early morning hours Saturday.
Rebecca Rauber was reported missing just before 1:15 am Saturday, with reports stating she had left Town Royal in the 400 block of Commercial without any of her belongings and was observed walking westbound alone on West 5th Avenue. A search dog was utilized Saturday evening and police have been reviewing videos and surveillance footage from the intersection of 6th Avenue and Neosho Street; however, no signs of Rauber have been found as of yet.
A bloodhound K9 unit is being brought in to assist with the search at this time.
Meanwhile, community members have begun to organize search parties to try and help locate Rauber. EPD expressed its appreciation to the community for its willingness to assist; however, they are asking residents to avoid the search area at this time to not “interfere with the scent.”
Instead, residents within a three-to four-block radius of 5th Avenue and Neosho are being asked to review any home surveillance or security camera footage between the hours of 11:30 pm Friday and the early morning hours of Saturday. Rauber is a 28-year-old white female, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 160 lbs, with long brown hair, blonde highlights and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts or with footage that could help locate her is asked to contact the Emporia Police Department immediately by calling 620-341-3350. Information can also be submitted anonymously by calling Lyon County Crime Stoppers at 620-342-2273 or through P3 Tips.
8:55 pm Saturday:
An Emporia woman has gone missing.
Kansas Missing and Unsolved says 28-year-old Rebecca Rauber was last seen at 11:30 pm Friday. She had apparently left Town Royal in the 400 block of Commercial at that time, leaving the business alone. She apparently did not drive. She also apparently left her phone, keys and purse at the tavern.
Emporia Police Sgt. Marcial Hernandez tells KVOE News Rauber went to Town Royal around 11 pm and left after what appears to be a minor verbal disagreement with at least one friend. Nearby cameras show Rauber walking westbound on Fifth past Merchant just after 11:30 pm before disappearing.
Rauber is a white female, standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 160 pounds. She has brown hair with blonde highlights and brown eyes. Hernandez says Rauber was wearing a white undershirt with a front pattern to be determined, as well as a dark flannel top. She was also wearing dark jeans or dark-colored pants and black shoes.
If you have information, call Emporia Police at 620-343-4225 or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 785-296-4017. Hernandez also says people or businesses with cameras, especially along Fifth west of Commercial, should review their footage between 11:30-11:45 pm before calling authorities.
8:20 pm Saturday: Emporia woman apparently missing since Friday night
An Emporia woman has apparently gone missing.
Kansas Missing and Unsolved says 28-year-old Rebecca Rauber was last seen at 11:30 pm Friday. She had apparently left Town Royal in the 400 block of Commercial at that time, leaving the business alone. She apparently did not drive. She also apparently left her phone, keys and purse at the tavern.
Rauber is a white female, standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 160 pounds. She has brown hair with blonde highlights and brown eyes. She may have been wearing a Wichita State University or WSU sweatshirt.
If you have information, call Emporia Police at 620-343-4225 or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 785-296-4017.
