When Patrick Crim went missing at Lake Perry this summer, the response was immediate and overwhelming. The Jefferson County Sheriff coordinated a massive search effort. The Red Cross came. The National Guard flew overhead. Volunteers showed up on horseback and ATVs. The community mobilized, and the sheriff later told This Is Topeka he was proud to see how people rallied to the need.
Crim was eventually found safe in Oklahoma, far from the woods and lake where the search was centered. The thousands of man-hours, the horses, the drones, the National Guard flyover — none of it led directly to his discovery. And yet, the point wasn’t just the result. It was the way a county and its community responded to someone in need.
Now compare that to the case of Kaden Zubler.
A Family Left to Lead the Search
Kaden disappeared on May 15. His last verified sighting was at 8:10 p.m., walking north on N. Topeka Blvd. and Morse. After that, he vanished.
In the days and weeks that followed, his mother, Jessica Puff, led the charge. She took three weeks off work, canvassed more than 100 businesses, and begged for camera footage. Only four businesses produced images of her son that night. She and a small team of family and friends conducted mini-searches. At one point, they found a hole and discarded jeans in an alley that brought cadaver dogs to Kaden’s home. No evidence of foul play was discovered.
Official efforts were limited. A June 4 foot search near Soldier Creek. A June 17 drone sweep of the Kansas River and nearby homeless camps. That was it. Even the detective on the case, Puff said, was sidelined by injury and couldn’t leave the office.
The Missing Mobilization
Where Crim’s disappearance drew hundreds, Zubler’s case drew dozens. A June 7 community canvassing event brought volunteers, posters, and hope. But the wider city didn’t turn out. Businesses hesitated to review footage. Concern faded as the weeks dragged on.
The disparity is glaring. It would be easy to blame Topeka Police alone for not doing more. But maybe the harder truth is that it wasn’t just the institutions that fell short. It was us.
When one man went missing in Jefferson County, the entire region rallied. When Kaden disappeared in our own neighborhoods, our response was quieter. Less urgent. More resigned. That’s a shame that belongs not only to law enforcement, but to all of us.
A Mother’s Voice
Through it all, Jessica Puff remains both grateful and broken-hearted.
“Again I would like to thank the community, family and friends for all their help, eyes, well wishes and prayers. It’s comforting in the most uncomfortable time I’ve ever lived through.”
And she has a final message for her son:
“To Kaden, we love you and miss you!! If you can, please reach out to someone!! We are desperate to know you are ok.”
The Unanswered Question
Why does one disappearance ignite a region, while another leaves a family largely on its own? That is the question Topeka must ask itself. Because until Kaden is found — his family cannot rest. And neither should we.
What You Can Do
If you know anything about the disappearance of Kaden Zubler, please contact the Topeka Police Department at (785) 368-9551 or call Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007. Tips can remain anonymous.
Jessica also wants people to know: you don’t have to wait 24 or 48 hours to report someone missing. That’s a dangerous myth. “If your child or loved one is gone and something feels wrong, call right away,” she said. “Time matters.”
Even the smallest detail — a security camera, a sighting, a tip — could be the key.
