The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Police and volunteers plan to continue looking today for a 79-year-old woman who went missing Sunday morning.
Mary Eileen Butts, who has Alzheimer's disease, wandered from her home in the 400 block of Big Pine Drive. Her last confirmed sighting was Sunday evening.
Her family's not giving up, said daughter Terry Allred. Volunteers helping with the search plan to meet at 9:30 a.m. today at St. Nicholas Catholic Church at 712 Little Neck Road.
"I'm hoping for the best but, you know, I also know that it's been a long time," Allred said. "Either way, we have to have her."
While search efforts have been scaled back, the Marine Patrol continued looking Thursday along with officers out on their normal rounds, said Officer Margie Hobbs, a police spokesman. The Police Department has received "massive amounts of calls" and is following up on each one, she said.
Butts is 5-foot-3, weighs 145 pounds and has green eyes and reddish-blond hair. She goes by her middle name and was last seen wearing a turquoise shirt, khaki pants and white tennis shoes.
Police ask that anyone with information call Emergency Communications at (757) 385-5000 or the Detective Bureau at (757) 385-4101.
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Alive
They found her this afternoon off of Bonney Road, Yeah!
Where can you volunteer to search?
Is there a POC for volunteers who want to help search?
I'm off weekends and would like to help search. Is someone coordinating what areas have been searched or what areas need to be searched?
Someone please post info. The public is willing, but where to start?
project lifesaver
I have a son with Down Syndrome. A spry and curious little guy that that we would never want to lose. We use Project Lifesaver and hope to never have to utilize it for finding him but peace of mind is worth the small price we pay. I believe Medicare may help or pay all of it for elderly. One day last year we were visiting a friends farm in NC and he wandered off, the 20 mins. he was missing we were terrified. NC had no provisions for Project Lifesaver. He was found unharmed across a large field in tall grass. If anyone reads this and knows someone in need of it please relay the info. to the family. Typically they find the person within 20-30 mins. I believe two yearas a go a gentlman went missing and they found him a few days later not far from his home, deceased, had he only been a P/L customer.....? we will never know.
My heartfelt feelings to her family. My family and I have also looked for her and we will continue.
Mary Eileen Butts Missing Woman in Virginia Beach
I pray they find Mrs Butts unharmed and in healthy condition. I there was a unconfirmed sighting on a bike trail near shore drive...my question is with all the media coverage for the past 5 day's if someone did see her why did'nt they help her. Why did'nt they follow where she was going while at the same time relaying that information to police. Shore Drive is quite a distance from her home so for her to have gotten this far with no one seeing her walking is very hard to imagine. If someone did give her a ride they should have noticed something strange about an elderly woman accepting the ride..that should have been a red flag...We should all be more observent and do everything we can to bring her home safely. At this point I can only imagine how confused and scared this woman is...Lord please bring her home safely...
Just curious
Aside from police and volunteers, would it be feasible to ask HRT bus drivers, school bus drivers, trash trucks etc....to keep a look out? They usually travel all the residential roads and would be a good resource. I realize they need to pay attention to the road, but I just thought that with so many of them traveling all over the city, they could cover more ground. Just a thought.....
Good Call
Postal workers too! The epidemic of Alzheimers, the baby boomers coming of age and the length of life increasing- there should be something like this implemented within the community.
Awesome idea...we have
Awesome idea...we have thousand's of city employees traveling the roads everyday...
Sad
I do hope she is somewhere safe. This is so sad. I still don't understand why they don't put tracking devices on people with demetia, it really would save a lot of heart ache and worry, if they go missing like this poor woman.
I don't know why that comment deserved a thumbs down the other day, from sevral people. It's logical and safe for everyone involved.
Project Lifesaver
The tracking device program for Alzheimer's / Dementia patients is called Project Lifesaver. Virginia Beach has the receivers, but the family has to come forward and ask for the transmitter to be placed on their loved one. Unfortunately, this is how the local authorities sometimes find out they have a citizen suffering from memory impairment - through a large search effort. The national average for a wandering Alzheimer's subject to be located with Project Lifesaver is 20 minutes.
http://www.projectlifesaver.org/
From what I heard the family
From what I heard the family was in denial that she has Alzheimers, that's why she wasn't in the Project Lifesaver program. I want to say great job to everyone out there looking for her! Everyone has been workin through the weather, including 100+ heat, and they're not giving up! Keep up the good work and lets find her!