SHERIFF'S OFFICE SEARCHING FOR MISSING 80-YEAR-OLD

SHERIFF'S OFFICE SEARCHING FOR MISSING
80-YEAR-OLD

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in locating an elderly DeLand man who has Alzheimer's and is possibly disoriented while driving around the county. William Henry McKnight, 80, was last seen at a CVS pharmacy, 250 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach at approximately 5 a.m. He is driving a 2004 white Mercury Mountaineer with license plate number B930NR. He told employees at the pharmacy that he intended to drive to North Carolina. He is 6'1" and 200 pounds, last seen wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt.

McKnight was first discovered at about 1:20 a.m. at the pharmacy by employees who said that he was acting very confused and lost. He was transported to a local hospital by EVAC ambulance to be checked out, leaving McKnight's vehicle at the business. Later in the day a friend of McKnight's called the pharmacy in an effort to find McKnight after learning that he had been released from the hospital. The pharmacy manager discovered that McKnight's vehicle was gone and that employees had talked with him around 5 a.m. and heard him say he was going to North Carolina. The friend told deputies that McKnight was supposed to have Thanksgiving dinner with her and shouldn't be traveling out of state. McKnight does not have any relatives who live in Volusia County.

If anyone finds McKnight or his vehicle, contact the Sheriff's Office at 386-736-5999 or call 911 if there is an emergency.

Update: 2:05 a.m. - 11/23/09

An 80-year-old DeLand man who was reported missing on Friday was found safe in South Carolina. Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputies learned through his relatives early Monday morning that William Henry McKnight was in Regional Medical Center, Orangeburg S.C. The local law enforcement there had discovered McKnight driving on a set of railroad tracks and acting confused. He was not physically harmed, and he is expected to remain at the hospital until family members can pick him up.