'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance

It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.

It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.

“We just want answers for Nathan,” his cousin Jason Babcock said Saturday. “We need to put ourselves to rest, basically, and feel good knowing that we could have him home and have that proper service if he happens to be gone.”

Wise, a 38-year-old man with Down syndrome, was last seen on May 12, 2023 in the area of Jane Street and Sheppard Avenue East in Toronto.

“We're just trying to cope with it day-to-day,” Babcock told CTV News. “If it wasn't for the church community and everybody on the Facebook group and their support… Nathan's name would not be still out there.”

While Wise was living in Toronto at the time of disappearance, he grew up in Waterloo Region and made many friends during his time there.

“Nathan is such an amazing person,” said Dave Weber, who was friends with him for over 25 years.

“He's missed, you know, because he would just be so delightful to talk to,” said Nathan’s pastor Gordon Wright. “If Nathan was here right now, I would just give him a big hug, and I know I would get a great big bear hug back, and that's all that would need to be said.”