Missing 90-Year-Old Maryville Man Found Safe Following Swift Community Response to Silver Alert

In a swift resolution following a community-wide alert, 90-year-old Rex Casteel of Maryville was located safe after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Silver Alert yesterday. According to WBIR, Casteel was last seen yesterday near East Lamar Alexander Parkway in Maryville, believed to be driving a 2010 beige Nissan Altima with Tennessee plates.

The alert came to a close when Casteel was found in the evening. Driving away from the Food Lion parking lot at 1707 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, he was last spotted before 5:30 p.m. yesterday, as reported by WVLT. The community's vigilance in spotting the Tennessee-tagged car "254BGXX" helped bring the situation to a quick resolution, with Casteel being found safe around 10:30 p.m. that day.

Aside from details of the vehicle, TBI had provided a description of Casteel, explaining he stood 5'10" tall, weighed 220 lbs., and was last seen dressed in gray gym shorts with a white Nike pullover shirt. The description was aimed at improving the chances of the public recognizing the man and was disseminated by various news outlets, including WATE. Calls came in to the Maryville Police Department's hotline and the TBI's dedicated number with potential sightings and information.

Authorities, who diligently worked to trace Casteel's whereabouts, thanked the public for their vigilance and assistance. Silver Alerts are a critical tool in bringing missing elders, especially those like Casteel with severe dementia as stated by WVLT, back to safety.