TOPEKA, KS — The family of Kaden M. Zubler, a 25-year-old Topeka resident who has been missing since May 15, 2025, is offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to his safe return. Kaden was last seen walking near 17th Street and Topeka Boulevard, wearing a red t-shirt, blue jeans, and red Under Armour sneakers.
According to his father, Chris Zubler, Kaden is a responsible and motivated young man. “He’s not involved in hard drugs, he’s never been in trouble with the law, and he has never been diagnosed with mental illness,” said Chris. “He worked full-time in his field after graduating from Washburn Tech and even bought his first home at age 20.”
Kaden responds to the nickname “Zoob” and is believed to be safe to approach. He may still be in the area and could be frequenting Wi-Fi accessible locations like fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vape shops. His phone and pistol have not turned up in local pawn shops or EcoATM kiosks, and his last known activity was a Snapchat ping on May 15.
Concerns About the Investigation
Despite expressing gratitude for law enforcement’s efforts, there is a growing frustration with delays in the investigation. Sources tell This Is Topeka that the case was not actively pursued for the first seven days after Kaden’s disappearance, allegedly due to the absence of the department’s missing persons officer, Detective Fowler, who was reportedly not cleared for duty outside of the police station.
A source outlined the following concerns:
- No security footage was retrieved from the KBI building near Kaden’s last known location. Surveillance reportedly expires after three days, and no action was taken in time to preserve it.
- The first officer visit to Kaden’s house occurred nine days after his disappearance, on May 24.
- A cadaver dog search of Kaden’s home found no evidence of a body.
- As of late May, Kaden’s cell phone and pistol have not been traced, and no useful surveillance video has been recovered.
- A photo circulating of Kaden in a blue t-shirt was taken on May 11, not the day of his disappearance.
The family has been proactive in seeking help but says they have received no responses after reaching out to Topeka city officials, all city council members, the mayor’s office, and other city leadership.
This Is Topeka has also reached out to TPD and Councilwoman Karen Hiller for comment. As of this writing, no response has been received.
A Call to Action
While the family remains respectful and appreciative of law enforcement, they are calling on the entire Topeka community to do more. “There’s only one detective assigned to missing persons,” a family member said. “And if he’s unavailable, everything comes to a halt.”
If you or someone you know lives or works near the 17th and Topeka Blvd area, please check any security or door camera footage from May 15, especially in the morning or early afternoon.
A Message to Kaden
Kaden, if you’re reading this—please come home. We love you. There is nothing more important to us than knowing you’re safe. No matter what has happened or where you are, we just want to wrap our arms around you and know that you’re okay. You don’t have to go through anything alone. You are not in trouble. We just want you back. Please, Zoob, come home. — Your family
Anyone with information is urged to contact:
- Topeka Police Department: 785-368-9200 OR
- The Zubler family directly through Jeff@thisistopeka.com [all messages will be transmitted to them]
Please share this story. Someone knows something. And someone might still see Kaden.
***Correction*** The story has been altered to correct some inaccurate information regarding Det. Fowler. We have also corrected an inaccurate statement that KSNT and WIBW had not reached out to the family.
