BLENHEIM, N.Y. — A frantic search ended safely Friday when an 83-year-old New Yorker with dementia was found after wandering into the woods near their home in Schoharie County.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and local authorities, including the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Department, had been searching since the individual was reported missing around 6 p.m., last seen two hours earlier. Searchers combed the area on foot and used a drone to aid the rescue.
The breakthrough came at 7:10 p.m. when the missing person appeared at a stranger’s door, asking for help. A sheriff’s sergeant responded and safely returned the individual home.
The rescue was highlighted in this week’s DEC Forest Rangers – Week in Review, which details recent statewide ranger actions. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of community vigilance and reporting vulnerable adults who may be lost or in need of assistance.
This case also serves as a reminder of the risks faced by vulnerable adults, including those with dementia, mental health challenges, or other conditions, and the need for timely reporting and coordinated search efforts.
For those seeking information about other missing adults in New York, the New York Missing Persons Clearinghouse can be reached at 1-800-346-3543.
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