A search in Shelby County for a missing man with Alzheimer’s ended Saturday morning when 76-year-old Joseph Pate was found dead in the Fellowship Community near Joaquin. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office had announced him missing around 8 p.m. Friday.
Pate was last seen wearing a long-sleeved blue plaid shirt, dark jogging pants and an SFA ball cap. Deputies said he was likely to have a large brown dog with him.
An adjacent landowner located Pate around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, before search teams reached a newly identified area. The dog was still at his side.
Deep East Texas counties rely heavily on neighbors and volunteers during searches like this one. Residents who care for a loved one with dementia can ask their county sheriff’s office about local Silver Alert procedures and wandering-response programs.
Source: KLTV