Elderly Mississippi man reported missing during North Carolina vacation
Published 3:07 pm Monday, April 29, 2019
North Carolina law enforcement authorities were searching for a 91-year-old Mississippi man missing since Friday.
Nathaniel Brookins, 91, apparently wandering away on Friday from an AirBnB in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where he was staying with his daughter and grandson. The family lives in Jackson, Mississippi.
They were in town visiting other family members.
Brookins is in the early stages of dementia and has other medical conditions. He was was last seen on Lawrence Road in Hillsborough Friday afternoon. Family members fear he may have become confused and left the AirBnB, attempting to return to Mississippi.
Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) conducted an active investigation throughout the weekend, including using K9 units for tracking, searching with an ATV and surveying the surrounding areas by knocking on every door in the immediate neighborhood.
In addition, deputies shared a photo of Brookins with all area law enforcement agencies, checked with store clerks at Wal-Mart, Sheets and other high traffic businesses, and they checked area hospitals.
Brookins was believed to be on foot. Although he does not use a cane regularly, he sometimes picks up a stick and uses it to help himself ambulate.
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said, “We are asking for the public’s continued assistance. If you live in the area of Lawrence Road, please check your property including any outbuildings. If he is still in the area, Mr. Brookins is likely dehydrated, hungry, and tired. He may have sought shelter to rest.”
Brookins is a black male, who is balding with gray hair. He was last seen wearing a black long sleeve shirt, black pants, no socks, and brown house slippers.
Please call 911 immediately if you see anyone resembling Brookins. If you have any information to share from over the weekend, Deputy Keith Goodwin is the lead investigator on the case at the OCSO. Please call him at (919) 245 –2918.