What to do and how police help when searching for missing elderly people

The search for an 82-year-old Pass Christian man tragically came to an end when he was found dead near his home Tuesday.

WXXV’s Brooke Parker tells us how local police departments respond when an elderly person goes missing and what you can do if a loved one disappears.

As we age, our physical and cognitive function may decline, making elderly people more vulnerable to becoming lost.

When someone is missing, every second matters. Never hesitate to reach out for help. Pass Christian Police Chief Daren Freeman said, “You never know. They could be picked up by another vehicle that seen them on the side of the road walking and wanted to give them a ride. So, if you notice that someone is missing and they haven’t returned home, give us a call. I know every law agency on the Coast is glad to help, and they will do everything that they can to look for your loved one whenever they leave and don’t return home.”

Once authorities know, they can send a silver alert request to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and a search will begin immediately. Other agencies may be brought in to help.

These plans are put into place and should be done quickly and efficiently with hopes that the missing person will be found. Unfortunately, that is just not always the case.

Mahdi Suluki did not return home and was found dead close to where he lived.  He was found, however, because family and law enforcement didn’t lose hope. “Me personally, this is my first time – I’ve been here 8 years – that it’s ended like this. It’s not the ending that we wanted. We were hoping to find him. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. This isn’t the result that we wanted. I know it’s not what they wanted.”