Missing Musician Nathan Jatcko Took His Own Life

ST. LOUIS, MO — Nathan Jatcko, a 31-year-old St. Louis musician, reported missing last week has taken his own life, family announced yesterday. Last seen around 1:30 a.m. Last seen Friday morning at his apartment on Lawn Avenue, just off S. Kingshighway Blvd. in the city's North Hampton neighborhood, Jatcko was expected at a morning rehearsal for an upcoming show in The Grove Friday night, but he never showed up.

That just wasn't Nathan's style, his family said. They filed a missing persons report that night. “Nathan is a very reliable young man," Jatcko's father told the Post-Dispatch. "He is a professional and totally passionate about his music. That is the center of his world. Everything revolves around it. He wouldn't miss a practice without calling. He wouldn't miss a gig without calling.”

Calls to Jatcko had gone straight to voicemail since Friday. Text messages and emails likewise went unanswered. Family said they were perplexed that Jatcko's car was also missing and that he had apparently left food out for his cats.

The Jatcko family did not release any details of the musician's death and asked for privacy in a post on Facebook. "We are at a loss for words, but appreciate all of the love, kindness, and prayers communicated to us over the past five days," they wrote.

Suicide claims the lives of almost 45,000 Americans each year and for every person who takes their own life 25 attempt to do so. Provident Life Crisis Services offers local, 27/7 crisis intervention counseling. If you or a loved one are thinking about suicide, call 314-647-HELP (4357) or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a counselor. Warning signs include substance abuse, purposelessness, anxiety, feeling trapped, hopelessness, anger, recklessness and mood changes.

Photo courtesy of Sara Jatcko