The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Police and volunteers were knocking on doors and handing out fliers Tuesday as they continued searching for a 79-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease who disappeared early Sunday.
Virginia Beach police spokeswoman Margie Hobbs said police have been getting a lot of help from the city's Marine Patrol, Helicopter Unit, search and rescue dogs and Emergency Medical Services and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Search and Rescue Team.
Citizens also have pitched in by spreading the word about the missing woman, handing out fliers to businesses along Virginia Beach Boulevard and in nearby neighborhoods, and searching in the woods, Hobbs said.
Mary Eileen Butts was last seen by her family at her home in the 400 block of Big Pine Drive, in the Malibu area, about 5 a.m. Sunday, police said.
Hobbs said each missing person case is handled differently because there are so many variables. Butts' medical condition is what is worrying authorities, she said.
"We know we're dealing with someone who may not be able to deal with decisions," Hobbs said. "She's elderly and has Alzheimer's, and that's a concern to us. She may not be able to get food and water."
Another cause for concern was the weather: Temperatures hit a record 105 degrees Sunday.
Butts is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 145 pounds, and has reddish-blond hair and gray-green eyes, according to police.
Butts, who goes by her middle name, Eileen, was last seen wearing a turquoise shirt, khaki capri pants and white tennis shoes.
Butts' husband of 63 years, Thomas, said she was home when he got up Sunday morning. He went back to bed, and when he awoke, she was gone.
Thomas Butts, 79, said his wife didn't have any identification on her but does know her home telephone number.
"She's wandered off two or three times, but she's always come back," he said. Before, she had only been missing for about three or four hours and was usually nearby, he said.
"It's my fault that she got away," he said. "I wasn't supposed to let my guard down."
Victoria Butts, Mary Butts' daughter-in-law, said the disappearance comes as a surprise to the family. "It's unusual," she said. "She would never walk away. Everything was routine."
Hobbs said Mary Butts was seen at a 7-Eleven in the Kings Grant area at about 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
She also was seen at about 5:40 p.m. on Kings Grant Road near Kingston Elementary School, which is a couple of miles from where her home is located.
Anyone with information is asked to call Emergency Communications at (757) 385-5000 and the Detective Bureau at (757) 385-4101.
Jennifer Jiggetts, (757) 222-5150, jennifer.jiggetts@pilotonline.com
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Sorry - part of my comment was accidently deleted!
...
If the state's K9 resources are not trained for highly contaminated work and to work vehicle trails, then they won't be as efficient, accurate, and able to work as thoroughly as a K9 that is.
My hope and prayers go out to Mrs. Butts that she returns home safe and sound, as wwell as to her family. I wish good luck and a hearty "THANK YOU" to all of the searchers that are looking for her.
Oh my goodness....
"Roanoke woman, 82, stranded for hours in car"
This story has a WONDERFUL and cute ending.....sorry comments weren't allowed? One happy ending for a Senior!
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/07/roanoke-woman-82-stranded-hours-car?cid=ltst
missing lady..
Such a sad story..I pray she is somewhere ..with the temps in the 100's doing the time she wandered off dosent look good..Poor lady got tired and may have just laid down somewhere..I'm going to ride 'round today and look..The family need prayer not criticism
I pray that they find this
I pray that they find this poor Lady.
Has she had anything to eat or drink? She is more helpless than a child.
My Father-in-law had alzheimers for 10 yrs. and it breaks your heart to watch your loved one!
So Sorry
Sorry to hear that she is missing. I certainly hope she is found soon and safe.
My one question, while all of the money and resources go towards finding this woman and on top of the grief, stress and worry everyone is going through:
Why does she not have a tracking device on?
I see these stories all of the time and think, wow, hunters track their dogs easily enough. Does no one think about the possibility of this happening? These people have no clue where they are or even what they are doing, most if not all of the time. If they can not be CONSTANTLY monitored then they need some sort of tracking, it's that easy. TRACKING DEVICE!!! Remember that.
Heartbreaking
My family and I have prayed for Mrs. Butts. I can't imagine the agony the family is dealing with. I live in the Kings Grant area and have seen the efforts from the community and the police. I can hardly sleep at night thinking about where she is and if she is able to fight to stay alive. Mr. Butts I don't know you or your family but please don't carry the weight of these horrible circumstances on your shoulders. May God put peace in your heart and help us find your beautiful wife.
Amen
"May God put peace in your heart and help us find your beautiful wife."
I don't know the family either, but I also have trouble sleeping and cannot get Ilene or her family off my mind; it's as if she and they have become extended family, ever since I learned of her circumstances.
I thought your sincere, heartfelt comment to her husband was beautifully articulated and one that is echoed by myself and so many others.I really hope he comes upon it, as it is soo important he not blame himself.
If I may add, may God's Holy Spirit fill you with strength and surround you with the peace and support of His angels. May God Bless the searchers with discernment and guidance to where Ilene is so we can bring her home.
Comforting thoughts.
"It's my fault that she got away," he (Thomas) said. "I wasn't supposed to let my guard down."
Thomas, though you may feel responsible as her spouse of so many years with the understood desire to care for and protect her, it isn't your fault. You have to sleep sometime, figuratively and literally. Please know that you aren't at fault here.
I'll keep my eyes peeled and also keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers and hoping for a happy ending.
Bloodhounds could find her ASAP!
Is there any trained Bloodhound dogs anywhere here in the South? They could find her very quickly provided they start where she was last seen. I looked all over for her in the Thalia area. Noticed that there are a lot of empty houses for sale and lots of people with sheds. She may have ducked out of the heat Sunday and gone into a shed or playhouse.
Bloodhounds
richn,
Please don't think that just because someone has a bloodhound, that it can trail this woman. If the bloodhounds are not trained to work at highly contaminated scenes or to trail vehicles, then it will be ineffective here as from what I see, Mrs. Butts was in a very populated area and may have been in a vehicle.
The bloodhound, while great at trailing, is no more efficient at getting 'the-job-done' than other breeds,if they are trained at or upto a minimum standard. (An example is I recently read that a dog can't track someone after 2 days so can you imagine that person being a dog handler? There are many handler's that place a 'cap' on what they perceive is an attainable age for a trail. They wouldn't train their dog on older scents so that's as good as they will ever be ... the irony and sad part is that it is well established / documented of much OLDER work being done. Therefore the dog is only as good as the handler will train it to be. Sad, isn't it ...)
If the state's K9 resources are not trained for highly contaminated work and to work vehicle trails, then they won't be as efficient, accurate, and able to work as thoroughly as a K9 that is. The same g