'He knows this area, he’s been here before': Search continues for missing man last seen three weeks ago
It’s been three weeks since a 37-year-old man with Down syndrome formerly from Waterloo region, went missing.
Nathan was last seen in the area of Jane Street and Sheppard Avenue in Toronto.
Volunteers combed through the woods and thick brush on Saturday in the Campbellville area, just west of Milton looking for any sign that Nathan may have returned to an area he knows well.
It’s part of a grueling search for Nathan, who has been missing since May 12.
“It gives strength back to the family and the hope that people are out there willing to assist,” said William Bolton, senior trainer of Advanced Tactical Training Search & Rescue.
The sun was beating down on the backs of community volunteers taking on the search, but that didn’t dim hope of finding Nathan.
His family declined to speak on camera but told CTV News Nathan was last ween wearing a hoodie with green stripes, black pants, black shoes and a Blue Jays baseball cap.
The description of what Nathan was last wearing when he went missing was only just revealed to the family and searchers.
“We’ll move them around, they’ll search in a little area and then move to a different area, but it’ll be very contained,” Bolton said. “He is drawn to nature. He knows this area [and] he has been here before. The fact that he likes nature, it’s an area of interest.”
Bolton and his rescue dog Sheba were contacted a week ago to help in the search.
“Sheba is trained in water, so she will scent if there’s anything out in the water,” he said. “She has found people out in the water before, so we would then use her beyond our line of sight basically.”
Sheba sits in the back of William Bolton's truck as crews search for a missing man. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News)
Nathan’s family says the area is one of his favourite places to visit, enjoying the camping at the Kelso Conservation Area. Without anything else to go on, the search was called hoping for the best.
“We’re trying to find the small pockets of water. We’re not worrying about the big lakes or things like that,” Bolton said.
A Search For Nathan Facebook group continues to connect communities as both his family and friends are hopeful they will find him safe.
“This is exactly why we do it, to bring closure to a family one way or the other,” Bolton explained. “I would rather bring the person home than have a void in the family.”
Posters with information about Nathan have been popping up in Waterloo region and Guelph over the last few days.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.