A tense city-wide search came to a welcome close as 79-year-old dementia patient, Richard Lane, who vanished earlier this month, was found safe. The Silver Alert issued for the Houston resident has been cancelled, according to a tweet from The Texas Center for the Missing.

Update: The Silver Alert for Richard Lane has been cancelled. He was located safe. https://t.co/LIImCBXsDR

— TX Center 4 Missing (@TXCenter) April 23, 2024

Lane had last been seen on April 15 in Houston near the 14800 block of Lee Road. Alerting the community, The Texas Center for the Missing and the Houston Police Department (HPD) had pushed for public vigilance, in efforts that have now proven successful. They had earlier stated that his condition impairs his ability to return safely without assistance, as reported by Hoodline.

The protocol for the Silver Alert involves alerting the public about missing persons, especially seniors who suffer from Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other mental disabilities. Given the urgent nature of these cases, quick dissemination of information is crucial for the individuals' safe recovery.

Houston citizens rallied together spreading information, sharing the Silver Alert widely across social media and community groups. While detail about what Lane was wearing at the time he went missing were not disclosed. The authorities have expressed gratitude to the public for their help in locating Mr. Lane. For anyone with further inquiries or information on similar cases, the HPD contact number remains 832-394-1840.