Sorry to hear that, raging vortex.

Sometimes when families are overwhelmed by a situation, they just don't want to talk about it because it may cause them a lot of distress. However -- and I want to emphasize this -- you absolutely did NOT do anything wrong and I think it's fantastic that you emailed encouragement. I'm sure they appreciated the sentiments, even if they didn't reply.

All that said, he may be okay, or he may not be. I'm sure it's painful not knowing either way. If you're really curious and desperately want to know, I suppose you could do the morbid thing and look for local obituaries that contain the name "Jonathan [whatever-his-last-name-is]."