LYON COUNTY — The Emporia Police Department, in coordination with the Coroner’s Office, has concluded its investigation into the death of 28-year-old Rebecca Rauber.
The official cause of death has been determined to be hypothermia, according to a media release from police. The manner of death is classified as accidental/natural.
The Emporia Police Department, with the assistance of K9 Daisy and her team from Search & Rescue of Kansas, recovered her body approximately 300 yards from the area where she was last seen on video, according to a statement from Emporia Police Captain Lisa Hayes.
Just after 1a.m. Saturday January 25, Emporia Police received a report of a missing woman identified as Rebecca Rauber, a school teacher from Emporia, had left the Town Royal bar in the 400 block of Commercial Street, on foot without her purse, phone, or jacket.
Officers began searching for Rebecca immediately and utilized business surveillance cameras in the area. Rebecca was observed walking alone westbound on West 5th Avenue in Emporia. Video footage from a residence showed Rebecca walking north on Neosho Street from West 5th Avenue at approximately 11:37 p.m. on Friday, January 22.
Several additional videos from the intersection of 6th Avenue and Neosho Street were reviewed; however, Rebecca did not appear to cross 6th Avenue at that location.
During the investigation an additional video showed Rebecca in the 700 block of W. 4th Ave. at approximately 11:44 p.m on January 23rd. Rebecca's body was found approximately 300 yards south of West 4th Avenue, where she was last seen on video. Rebecca was located in a wooded area and she was covered in snow due to the snowstorm that became heavy they day after her disappearance.
There are no indications of foul play, and the case is now closed, according to Emporia Police.