KC man ‘in good spirits’ after going missing for 7 days. He is still in the hospital
A Kansas City man who was found safe in southeastern Missouri after being missing for a week is “in good spirits” as he recovers in a hospital, his family said Monday.
Nate Hubert, a 32-year-old FEMA worker, was found safe in Shannon County, Missouri, Friday, according to the Cape Girardeau Police Department. He went missing June 21 after not showing up for work in Cape Girardeau, about 167 miles east of Shannon County.
Nate Hubert’s father, Ed, said in a text message that Nate Hubert remains in a hospital in southern Missouri and “seems to be in good spirits and his usual self.” He said he and his wife, Gayle, have talked to Hubert on the phone and plan to drive down to see him on Tuesday.
Ed Hubert said his son is scheduled to be discharged next Monday but could be discharged sooner if he progresses. Cape Girardeau police said in a Facebook post that Nate Hubert began receiving medical attention Friday after he was found drinking from a stream. They said he had not eaten for several days.
As of Monday, it is not clear how Nate Hubert went missing or where he was found. Ed Hubert said he and Gayle Hubert are leaving it to their son to tell his story when he’s ready.
Nate Hubert found safe after going missing
Nate Hubert was found by park rangers with the National Parks Service, according to police. Shannon County is situated within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which is a national park. It also has several small towns.
Before going missing, Hubert was last seen at work on June 20. His rental car was last seen driving west from Cape Girardeau near the intersection of Missouri highways 72 and 34 that night, according to police. It is unclear if Hubert was driving the car.
Hubert was in Cape Girardeau helping with tornado and flood relief. He is a data analyst for FEMA and had been in Cape Girardeau since June 9, according to his parents. He lives in the River Market area of Kansas City and is a 2011 graduate of Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Missouri.
Immediately after Hubert went missing, friends and family mobilized to search for him. Friends created a Facebook page called ‘Find Nate Hubert’ to share information, and it had over 3,000 members as of Monday. Friends also traveled to Cape Girardeau to distribute fliers and search along local roads.
According to friends and family, Hubert is kind, selfless, capable and adventurous. His best friend and college roommate, Scott MacDonald, said this is what made it easy for everyone to drop everything to try to find him.
“That’s part of what was really motivating me and all of our friends this week — knowing that if it were us — Nate would be doing all of this, and more, to try and help,” MacDonald said.
The Star’s Kendrick Calfee contributed.
