UPDATE: Missing 63-year-old Rodney Jenkins has been found in Kingsport after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Silver Alert for him.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has activated a Silver Alert for 63-year-old Rodney Jenkins, who has not been seen since Wednesday afternoon in Sevier County. Believed to possibly be heading to South Carolina, Jenkins is driving a blue 2015 Toyota Corolla, equipped with a South Carolina handicap tag number "228216W," reported WVLT.
The bureau emphasized that Jenkins has a medical condition that could impair his ability to return safely without assistance. Jenkins was last seen around 3:30 p.m. and there is a rising concern for his well-being. The Sevier County community is being asked to keep an eye out for Jenkins or his distinctive blue vehicle and to immediately call in sightings to authorities. People who see him or his vehicle are encouraged to quickly call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office at 865-453-4668 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND, WBIR reports.
There is not yet much information on why Jenkins was in Sevier County or the specific nature of his medical conditions. However, the issue of his disappearance is urgent, due to the medical assistance he may urgently need. The TBI has not provided further details on his destination in South Carolina or a specific route he may be taking to get there.
The Silver Alert system is intended to help locate missing individuals, particularly seniors, who have cognitive impairments and are at risk when away from their usual support networks. The community’s role in spotting Jenkins and his vehicle could prove critical in facilitating a safe return. As time marches forward, so too does the concern for Jenkins, whose condition may make his journey significantly more precarious. The call for immediate action is clear, and anyone with information should not hesitate to quickly make contact with law enforcement. This alert, as emphasized by the TBI, is a plea for the eyes of the people to remain vigilant, as shared by WATE.
