Missing Santee Man Found In Long Beach

Updated:

SANTEE, CA – A 91-year-old missing Santee man was found early this morning in Long Beach about 12 hours after he drove away from his home without a functioning cellphone.

Ralph Solis Reyes Sr. was reported missing about 3:45 p.m. Thursday after telling his son over the phone at about noon that he was on his way to a medical appointment in San Diego, sheriff's officials said. His son reported Reyes did not have any appointments, and his cellphone was turned off or not functioning after their conversation.

Considered at-risk and suffering from memory loss, Reyes was found some time early Friday morning by Long Beach police in the Los Angeles County city about 120 miles north of Santee, San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Anthony O'Boyle said.

"The Long Beach Police Department had Mr. Reyes Sr. evaluated by paramedics and facilitated the reunification with his family," O'Boyle said. "The San Diego Sheriff's Department would like to thank the public and the Long Beach Police Department for their assistance in locating Mr. Reyes Sr."

By City News Service

Original story:

SANTEE, CA – An elderly Santee man who suffers from memory loss went missing Thursday in San Diego where he traveled for a medical appointment.

Ralph Solis Reyes Sr., 91, drove away from his home Thursday morning in a red four-door Chevrolet Metro to an appointment he believed he had somewhere in San Diego, according to the San Diego Sheriff's Department.

His son called Reyes on his cellphone around noon to tell him he did not have a medical appointment, authorities said. Reyes' phone is now turned off or not working and he has not been heard from or seen since.

Reyes has no family members in San Diego and it is not known where he may have gone, authorities said. Reyes has not gone missing before and takes medications, authorities added.

Reyes is Hispanic, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 125 pounds. He has short gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing glasses and possibly a baseball cap.

The California license plate number for his 1999 Chevrolet Metro is 4FEX016.

Anyone who sees Reyes or has information about his whereabouts was urged to call Deputy C. Hill of the Santee Sheriff's Station at 619-956-4000.

City News Service and Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

Photos via San Diego Sheriff's Department