Joseph Zak - missing since 7 December 2015

[Olivia]

https://www.facebook.com/joseph.zak.9

https://www.facebook.com/groups/447894528748999/

http://www.wday.com/news/minnesota/3...over-one-month


Joseph Zak disappeared over a month ago after being last seen at his group home in Brookston. Family, friends and a rescue team all set out in search of answers.

"He was special. Even though he had his disabilities, he could do things that the normal person can't. When you're in the realm of autism, it's amazing things that they can say and explain that you could never comprehend and yet he needed assistance in care for basic living," said James Zak, father of Joseph Zak.

Through the cold temperature and deep snow, over fifty people including the family of Joseph Zak searched five miles of woods just outside the group home where he went missing on December 7th.

"We're hoping for answers, we're hoping for clues. In particular, we're hoping for evidence. We're looking for things Joe was carrying, or signs that he might have been here that might give us clues to a direction or that we find him," Marleen Zak, mother of Joseph Zak.

13 rescue squads, two canines and a state of the art tracking system assisted in the search.

"As time has gone by, there has been nothing from him. No credit card activity, no bank account, no anything, no gift card usage. He hasn't been seen anywhere so it kind of lends support to the idea that he might be in the woods around here," said Rick Slatten, Captain of St. Louis County Rescue.

However, since Zak's disappearance, the weather conditions have made it difficult.

"Right now, the river's iced over so we're kind of behind the eight ball here. We're playing catch up in terms of our search effectiveness," said Slatten.

But the family is holding on to hope.

"We just want some closure and some answers," said Marleen Zak.

The results of today's search will determine if another one will be planned. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Investigation Division.

[Bewitchingstorm]

Here's an interesting, but long article, from December 2022 about the case. I have provided some updates below in case the link goes bad.

https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vau...ill-no-answers

As part of his care plan, the staff member was assigned to give visual check-ins with Zak every 15 minutes due to previous stints of leaving the property. The employee failed to check on Zak until just after 8 a.m., missing three check-ins. By then, he was gone, with the empty shower still running.

A Walmart gift card, which RSI (group home) reported missing from Zak’s bedroom on Dec. 7, was never spent. Zak’s debit card was also never used.

Zak’s mother learned of him using dating websites and sites with sexual material in the months before his disappearance. The websites, which she said were highly inappropriate for a vulnerable adult to be using, were taking money from his bank account in what Marleen Zak believes was a scam. The investigation found no substantial evidence that Zak left with or was taken by someone he had met online.