'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
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
developing Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Kinew, Poilievre meet at Manitoba legislature, discuss each other's priorities
Premier Wab Kinew and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre met at the Manitoba legislature Thursday afternoon.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.