Missing Dementia Patient From East County Found Safe

Update:

Basilio Casillas was found safe and reunited with his family.

LA MESA, CA – Police are seeking the public's help in finding an elderly dementia patient from East County.

Authorities searched Friday near Grossmont Center and Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa for Basilio Casillas, 88, who was last seen Wednesday.

Officers and a sheriff's helicopter searched for Casillas a little before 1:50 a.m. near the 8600 block of Fletcher Parkway. The helicopter cleared the area around 2:40 a.m. without success.

Casillas is believed to have boarded a trolley Wednesday from the Grossmont Center area, La Mesa police detective Michael Butcher said. Officials believe he was headed west toward Pacific Beach, where he is known to frequent Linda's Donuts at 1888 Grand Ave.

In addition to La Mesa and Pacific Beach, Casillas has been recently seen in the area of Fairmount Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego. He also went missing last week but was later found at the San Ysidro border crossing, Butcher said.

Casillas has white hair, walks with a cane and was last seen wearing a white shirt and beige pants.

Anyone who sees Casillas or has information about his whereabouts was asked to call the La Mesa Police Department at 619-667-1400.

Image via La Mesa Police Department