LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Friday, more than 24 hours after he had gone missing while on the way to an appointment, a Lakeport man returned home on his own.
Gilbert Navas, 70, returned home at 1:45 p.m. Friday, according to the Lakeport Police Department.
Navas had left in his Toyota Tacoma pickup on Thursday morning en route to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, but police said he never arrived at the hospital.
After he was reported missing later on Thursday, the Lakeport Police Department began issuing community alerts in an effort to find Navas.
Police also entered Navas into the Department of Justices’ Missing Persons System and, due to concerns for his well-being, into the California Highway Patrol’s Silver Alert System for missing seniors.
On Friday, police said they had been able to track Navas to the Bay Area where, on Thursday evening, he rented a Hyundai Sonata and, hours later, checked into a San Jose motel.
However, when San Jose Police tried to contact him at the hotel on Friday, he already had left, authorities said.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said his staff sent out be on the lookout notices to every law enforcement agency in California, with emphasis on the Bay Area. Additionally, they updated the Silver Alert three times.
“We were trying to track his movements and hoping that he would be found by police,” Rasmussen said.
As police were continuing their search, Navas returned home on Friday afternoon, driving the rental car, said Rasmussen.
“He did not not know we were looking for him,” said Rasmussen.
Police still aren’t sure what happened to Navas’ pickup, leading to Navas renting the car. Rasmussen said they’re still investigating to find out the status of the pickup.
Rasmussen, who has known Navas for nearly 30 years, said that after Navas returned home, police met with him. “He was happy to see us, we were happy to see him.”
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Lakeport man reported missing Thursday returns home
- Elizabeth Larson
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