Search underway for missing Daytona Beach man with Alzheimer's

Harold Cantrell, 85, last seen 10 days ago

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – About 100 volunteers and law enforcement officers from across the state spent Saturday searching for an elderly man with Alzheimer's who has been missing for more than a week.

"We're going door to door. We're looking for everybody out on the street," Michael Cantrell. the missing man's son, said.

Volunteers waited in line for their assignments as part of a massive search effort to find Harold Cantrell. The 85-year-old, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and dementia, was last seen July 5 when he left the Indigo Palms health care facility in Daytona Beach. 

"We saw it in the paper, we saw it on TV, we saw it on Channel 6 and felt like we had to do our part," volunteer and veteran Jim Drake said.

Cantrell's family said they've had mixed emotions.

"Encouraged in the respect that the worst has not happened and frustrated in the respect that an 85-year-old walked out of an elderly care facility and nobody has seen him for 10 days now," Michael Cantrell said.

He said volunteers have been searching block by block. They are focusing their efforts on residential and business areas.

The search effort happened at the same time as law enforcement, both local and from across the state, spent the day searching wooded areas and abandoned buildings.

Both groups are trying to get results and get answers for Cantrell's family.

Michael Cantrell told News 6 he was overwhelmed by all of the support.

"It renews your faith in humanity, makes you feel good about society, and makes you feel good to know people at their core are willing to help somebody," he said.

He said he knows time isn't on their side, but the family is fueled by faith. He said they are hopeful they can bring Harold home.

"We're hoping to get results today. We are faithful in believing that we will get dad back. That's the goal," he said.

Michael Cantrell said his dad is strong, even though he has some disabilities.

He believes his father may be trying to go home to Flagler County or to his hometown in Illinois.

Harold was last seen wearing a black, gray and white horizontal-striped shirt, black pants and dark shoes. He may also be wearing a U.S. Navy cap with USS Midway, CV-14 on it.

His family said Harold may also have the Tile tracking device that can be activated via Bluetooth on him. Authorities have asked the public to download the Tile app. Anyone in the area with a mobile device can download the app and keep location and Bluetooth services on. If you walk within 100 feet of him, the Tile will auto send his GPS coordinated to the Tile company, which will alert authorities.

A second search party Saturday is scheduled to take place beginning at 3 p.m. and another effort will be underway from 2-5 p.m. Sunday. Volunteers should meet at the Indigo Palms health care facility.

Anyone who sees Harold is asked to call 911 and to try to engage him in a conversation to try and keep him where he is until police arrive.

To learn more about the search efforts to bring Harold home, or to help by sharing, visit the Facebook page "Help Find Harold."


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