In January 2026, two unrelated missing-person cases involving educators in the United States ended in heartbreaking outcomes, sending waves of grief through their communities.
Rebecca Rauber, a 28-year-old teacher from Kansas, was reported missing before her body was discovered on January 25 in a snowy, wooded area near Emporia. Authorities believe she likely died from hypothermia after being exposed to extreme winter conditions. Her death shocked the local community, where she was remembered as a dedicated young educator with a promising future.
In a separate case, Linda Brown, a 53-year-old teacher from Chicago, was found dead in Lake Michigan after being missing since January 3. Details surrounding the circumstances of her death were still under investigation at the time, but her passing marked a tragic end to weeks of uncertainty for her family, colleagues, and students.
Though the cases were not connected, both losses highlighted the dangers posed by harsh winter conditions and underscored the deep impact such tragedies have on school communities and loved ones left behind.