REDWOOD VALLEY, Calif. – A 6-year-old girl helped authorities locate a man with Alzheimer’s who had gone missing from his home on Tuesday.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Lt. James Van Hagen said young Natalie Wildberger helped bring the story to a happy conclusion thanks to her alertness.
At 3:40 p.m. Tuesday Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Walnut Lane in Redwood Valley regarding an elderly missing adult, Van Hagen said.
When they arrived at the scene deputies learned that an 86-year-old male with Alzheimer’s had gone for a walk with his dog and was possibly missing or lost, according to Van Hagen.
Approximately one hour after the man left his dog returned home without him. Van Hagen said family members searched the immediate area and when they were unable to locate the man they called the sheriff’s office. Deputies then called Redwood Valley Fire Department and Ukiah Ambulance to assist.
While deputies were searching the area they were advised the missing man may have been located on Road “A.” Van Hagen said sheriff’s deputies, Redwood Valley Fire and Ukiah Ambulance responded to the Road A location and found the subject stuck in some brush.
While at the Road A location deputies learned that Natalie Wildberger was outside playing when she heard noises coming from the brush, Van Hagen said.
Natalie said she continued to listen and thought she heard someone calling for help. Van Hagen said Natalie then went and got her father and they both found the missing man on the other side of a fence, stuck in the brush.
Van Hagen said Redwood Valley Fire and Ukiah Ambulance removed the man from the brush and transported him to Ukiah Valley Medical Center for further observation.
“The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Natalie for a job well done,” Van Hagen said.