A Russian search using helicopters pressed on for a 25-year-old Jefferson City man Wednesday, three days after officials say he went missing in below-freezing conditions after venturing out before dawn from a guest house in a mountainous stretch of southern Siberia.
Investigators in the Russian republic of Buryatia said Colin Madsen, of Jefferson City, disappeared early Sunday, a day after he arrived with another American as part of a group from Irkutsk, where he was a university student.
NBC News reported Madsen disappeared Sunday with only a T-shirt, trousers and boots in subzero temperatures, and bad weather in the area initially prevented authorities from searching via air or with police dogs.
Later, the Siberian Times newspaper reported Madsen's family was in Russia searching for him, and police were using a helicopter to try to locate him. The newspaper reported he was from Jefferson City and studying at Irkutsk State Linguistic University in Siberia.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by friends to raise money for the family to help offset the cost of traveling to Russia to help search for Madsen. A post on the page said, "Colin Madsen went on a walk at 3 a.m. between Saturday and Sunday, March 26th-27th. This was not an unusual desire, but unfortunately he has not returned since."
The post continued, "This is a very hard time for his family and friends. Anything helps."
NBC News reported Madsen disappeared in Arshan, a tourist destination known for mineral springs, mountain landscapes and a Buddhist monastery.
According to the Siberian Times, Madsen was staying overnight with a group of friends in the village of Arshan at the foot of the Sayan Mountains, located west of Lake Baikal.
"While the others were sleeping, he left the house and disappeared without trace," the Times reported.
His friends, including the other student from the U.S., spent the day searching for him before contacting police, investigators said. Police issued a missing person report Monday.
Madsen visited the region four times previously, and he speaks fluent Russian.
Officials at Helias Catholic High School said he attended the school for two years before transferring to Jefferson City High School.
Annie Madsen, of Markle, Indiana, said Wednesday her nephew has taught English in Russia. She said Colin Madsen's mother from Missouri and his father from Indiana were heading Wednesday to Russia to be closer to the search.
"He has a lot of friends concerned about him," Annie Madsen said, calling her nephew "a responsible young man."
The U.S. embassy says they are aware of the reports but, due to privacy reasons, they cannot provide any further details.
"The Department of State takes its obligation to assist U.S. citizens abroad seriously," the U.S. embassy added.
Some information was provided by the Associated Press.