The Timberjay logo
Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Missing man found safe near Greaney

Posted 4/16/26

UPDDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE:  40-year-old Clayton Leroy Nukala Jr. was located walking along a road near Greaney on Wednesday evening by a family member. He was transported to an area hospital …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Missing man found safe near Greaney

Posted

UPDDATED AFTER PRINT DEADLINE:  40-year-old Clayton Leroy Nukala Jr. was located walking along a road near Greaney on Wednesday evening by a family member. He was transported to an area hospital for evaluation in what appeared to be good condition, according to a sheriff's office press release.

Search underway for missing man near Greaney

GREANEY- Authorities are continuing an active search for a 40-year-old man reported missing in the Greaney area after multiple encounters over the weekend raised concerns about his safety.
St. Louis County deputies were first dispatched around 5 p.m. on April 11 to the 12000 block of South Willow River Road on a report of an unwanted individual. The man was later identified as Clayton Leroy Nukala Jr.
According to the sheriff’s office, Nukala fled into a wooded area when deputies arrived and could not be located.
Deputies were called back to the same area at approximately 10:31 a.m. on April 12 after reports that Nukala had returned, was acting erratically, and was not clothed. When authorities arrived, they learned he had last been seen wearing a white bathrobe and walking back toward the woods.
Since then, a multi-agency search effort has been underway involving the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, sheriff’s deputies, Orr Ambulance, K-9 teams, and aerial support, including drones and a Minnesota DNR enforcement aircraft.
In a Tuesday evening update posted on its Facebook page, the St. Louis County Rescue Squad said crews have maintained a heavy presence in the area, searching on foot and from the air while also processing data collected in the field using mapping software.
Officials say exposure is a significant concern due to recent wet and cool weather conditions, increasing the risk of hypothermia.
Nukala is not wanted on any criminal charges. Authorities say their focus is on locating him and ensuring his safety.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts, or who has noticed anything unusual on their property or trail cameras in the area, is asked to call 911.