Petaluma Police Continue Search For At-Risk Missing Woman, 68

PETALUMA, CA — The Petaluma Police Department and multiple other agencies were continuing the search Wednesday for an at-risk missing woman who may suffer from dementia.

A Silver Alert has been issued for Virginia Fuquay, 68, who was last seen around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when she walked away from a residence in the 1400 block of Mountain View Avenue, Petaluma police Lt. Tim Lyons said in a news release.

It was believed she left the residence with no car.

Fuquay is described as a Filipino woman who is 5 feet tall and weighs 90 pounds. She was last seen wearing a red short-sleeved blouse but no jacket, black pants, and orange slip-on shoes.

On Wednesday morning, police received a report that Virginia was seen walking northbound on Petaluma Boulevard South near H Street. She was seen wearing a pink beanie with her hair tucked inside, a red blouse, black pants, and orange shoes.

"Due to her dementia and clothing for the weather, the Petaluma Police Department is concerned for her safety," Lyons said. "We do not believe she has a cellular phone or purse with her."

The Petaluma Police Department Investigations Team was called in early Wednesday morning to focus on leads to her whereabouts, while patrol officers and other support staff focused on searching for her.

The California Highway Patrol airplane was requested to check the area using a thermal imaging device, and the Petaluma Fire Department used its rescue boat to search the Petaluma River, near Petaluma Boulevard South.

Around 8 a.m. Wednesday, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team arrived and did a coordinated search starting in the 1400 block of Mountain View Avenue. The Sheriff’s Office also assisted with its Drone Team and Dual-Purpose Motorcycle Team.

Search teams scoured large areas in the southwest area of Petaluma and a possible second residence for Fuquay in San Rafael. Allied law enforcement agencies also checked locations in other cities.

A community member reported speaking to Fuquay at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday on Mountain View Avenue, near Cochrane Way. Fuquay apparently asked her how to find a bus to Suisun City, police said.

Investigators found surveillance video of Fuquay on Petaluma Boulevard South, near H Street, at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. She was alone and was walking northbound on the west side of the road.

Police personnel checked all the bus stops and contacted all the bus companies looking for leads, Lyons said.

Another community member reported seeing a person matching Fuquay's description at 8 a.m. Wednesday on McNear Avenue at Mission Drive.

In addition to issuing a Silver Alert, the Petaluma Police Department distributed hundreds of fliers in downtown Petaluma and sent out missing person bulletins to allied law enforcement agencies.

"We are still actively searching for Fuquay and a tracking K-9 has arrived to assist in the search," Lyons said Wednesday night in an update. "We are asking for community members, especially in the southwest area of the Petaluma, to check their parked vehicles, sheds, garages, and any outbuildings for spaces where Fuquay may have sought shelter."

Police asked anyone with information on her whereabouts or who may have seen her or someone who matches her description, to call the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4326.

"We wish to thank the California Highway Patrol and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and all their teams for the assistance in this search, the SAFE Team, and our local bus companies for distributing flyers to their drivers and searching their surveillance video systems," Lyons said. "Lastly, we want to thank the community members and local businesses that have assisted us with leads. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Fuquay’s family for her safe return."