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UPDATE: State Police Use ATVs, Helicopter to Find Missing Man

An old man with Alzheimer's disease was found early this morning in the woods near Niantic River Road

A press release from the Connecticut State Police:

Thursday, at approximately 6 p. m., the Waterford Police Department was notified by family that an elderly man was missing from his Waterford home. The 83 year old man identified as Shepard K. Linscott, 83, who had left his 9th Street residence an hour earlier and failed to return.  Family members reported to authorities that he failed to return from his daily walk. They also reported that the man suffered from medical issues and had been gone for more than two hours.

After an initial search was conducted by first responders from the Waterford Police Department and Oswagatchie Fire Department, the State Police Emergency Services Unit was contacted to respond to assist in this search. State Police K-9 teams including a bloodhound responded. In addition Troop-One, the State Police helicopter, was summoned to participate in searching for the subject form the air.

Exhaustive search efforts continued in the Niantic River Road area for several hours, utilizing Trooper One’s thermal imaging device, with Troopers,  police officers and firefighters on foot utilizing ATVs and watercraft.  

At approximately 12:45 a.m., a State Police K9 team located the elderly man in a densely wooded area, a significant distance away from his residence.  Rescuers were guided through the swampy area by “NIGHT SUN” illumination from the State Police Helicopter Trooper 1 to the location where the man was found.  The man was conscious and alert.  He was carried from the woods by rescuers and taken to a local hospital for further treatment.

 

Kathy Waszczak October 25, 2012 at 10:54 am
Thank God. :)
Jayne Keedle (Editor) October 25, 2012 at 11:42 am
Indeed!
E Waldron October 25, 2012 at 11:45 am
More than happy to hear that Mr. Linscott was found. I'm proud that the Waterford PD has this Silver Alert system. The message was a bit rushed, and I could not understand the location information. I called local family and they said they listened to the message 4 different times and had other household members listen as well. They could not identify the details of the message or the locastion as well. The idea is terrific and meaningful to the community but needs to be more distinct and less rushed so that it is worth the effort of the PD.
Cheryl L October 25, 2012 at 12:11 pm
I received a text alert on my cell phone that was very clear and detailed. Maybe the WPD can re-share the sign-up info for that system.
Peter McDonald October 25, 2012 at 12:54 pm
I also received a "Silver Alert" on my cell phone, all was clear with the exception of ; Last seen *&^%$. This is the only part I could not understand, but when I got home, the Police and Fire departments were searching the neighborhood. great job and great team effort.
Carolyn Carter October 25, 2012 at 01:17 pm
Well they found him, so it does work. My question is why is a man with Alzeheimer's allowed to take walks by himself? The first rule of the disease is they FORGET. I grew up with this in my house and it can be very dangerous, for obvious reasons here. Hopefully this man isn't living alone either because my Gramps "forgot" how to cook and almost burnt down the house he built, by accident. The family needs to take his disease way more seriously, he can't be left alone - especially for daily walks.
Paul Petrone (Editor) October 25, 2012 at 01:17 pm
To your point Cheryl, here is how to sign up for the system: http://www.ct.gov/ctalert/site/default.asp
Also we at Patch will do what we did last night and send the alert along in writing, which might make it easier than having to listen to it.
Annie Alger Paul October 25, 2012 at 01:19 pm
Yes A Sliver Alert would have more people on the look out for the missin person.
Amy St.Cyr October 25, 2012 at 02:02 pm
Ok Waterford Patch, I am so happy the man was found safe and sound. I do however wonder how he was found Thursday at 6pm when in fact...today is Thursday ;0) also you should read over your work before submitting, have a few spelling errors. I have done thousands of directory listings for Patch and would love to become an editor someday.
Amy St.Cyr October 25, 2012 at 02:04 pm
Ok...reading it again, maybe it was copied from the press release. In any case, someone needs to check over their work... :0)
steve onuparik October 25, 2012 at 02:24 pm
i am mystified on how you let a family member go for walks with memory problems without some type of system to monitor his where abouts. i think i missed something here. i think there is a problem here and the family is not addressing the issue. this should not have happened, period. go out at 6:00 pm in almost darkness. something is amiss here. just an observation. i took care of my elderly mother, and had to put her in assisted living, due to dementia and the worst, a nursing home for her benefit and mine. they call it responsiblity.
Sue Scheck October 25, 2012 at 03:16 pm
Like E. Walron I listened to the phone alert 4 times and still did not understand the details. It wasn't until police rang my doorbell at 11PM that I realized he was missing from my area
John Sheehan October 25, 2012 at 04:55 pm
The phone message I received was garbled as well but the e mail that I got on my home computer was very clear. Glad I signed up for more than the telephone report. The Everbridge system may get a workout early next week if "Sandy" proves to be as much a problem as some are projecting.
Charlotte Zito October 25, 2012 at 07:18 pm
Thank God for all the devises used & of all the police and,firemen,etc. We do need the silver alert system for all the cases like this for children, seniors,missing persons
and to locate others.
Bonnie October 25, 2012 at 07:40 pm
I also could not understand the message as it was jumbled together where they were telling us his last location. The description of the man however was clear. And I definitely agree that everyone did a great job searching the neighborhood; it was an impressive operation for an unfortunate situation. Well done.
Jayne Keedle (Editor) October 25, 2012 at 07:59 pm
I received the call (and it came without my having to sign up) but I also found it a bit difficult to understand some of what was said. I called the police department for clarification for the story.
Raul Laureano October 25, 2012 at 08:01 pm
Thanks to Waterford Police Department and thanks to Paul/ Patch who also kept us updated. Good job!!!.
Lora Virga October 25, 2012 at 09:02 pm
Great job to Waterdord and State Police and Oswagache Fire Dept.. Thank you Waterford Patch for keeping use informed. Helicopter over my house and my daughter looked up Waterford Patch to see what was going on.
Dawn P. October 26, 2012 at 01:03 am
I agree-the message about the address wasn't clear-need to talk slower and more clear to fully understand all words on the alert.
I heard the helicopters last night and was very happy that we have the means to find people. I hope he is ok.
E Waldron October 26, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Thanks so much to all of the searchers, a job well done. So glad Waterford has the system and the means to organize such a search. God bless all of you who worked so hard for this happy ending.

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