Toronto police widen search for missing man with Down syndrome
Posted May 18, 2023 8:20 am.
Last Updated May 18, 2023 8:32 am.
Toronto police have widened their search for a 37-year-old man with Down syndrome who has been missing since last week.
Police say Nathan was last seen around 7 p.m. on May 12 in the Jane Street and Sheppard Avenue West area of North York.
A mobile command post that was set up earlier this week at Oakdale Community Centre has now been taken down, but investigators are still following up on tips from the public. They believe he is still somewhere in the GTA.
On Tuesday, police escalated their search efforts to a level three, which is the highest. Police said they are concerned that Nathan “does not have the ability to take care of himself for this amount of time.”
“For someone with that type of need, our level of concern is ramped up,” says Toronto police Duty Insp. Ryan Forde. “We are trying to actively find him and look for him in the best possible condition that we can.”
Toronto police say Nathan, 37, has been missing since May 12, 2023. HANDOUT/Toronto Police Service
Investigators said Thursday they have expanded their efforts to encompass a 500-metre search radius of the area, up from 300. The “all hands on deck” approach includes Toronto police mounted units and police dogs.
“(We are) checking all backyards, laneways, cars, and forest areas,” says Forde. “This area is very green.”
Nathan is new to Toronto and previously lived in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. His family reported his disappearance after finding out he was not under supervision when they thought he was.
Waterloo Regional Police have been contacted but say the extent of their involvement is only to share information on social media.
He is described as four feet six inches tall and 170 pounds, and has a full beard and mustache.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.
With files from Patricia D’Cunha
