The Indiana State Police, heeding the urgency of a missing person at risk, have issued a statewide Silver Alert.  Calling attention to the disappearance of 55-year-old Vicki Lynn Kirkwood from Merrillville, Indiana, as FOX59 reports.

Kirkwood, characterized as a 5-foot-5, 140-pound Black woman with black hair and brown eyes, was noted as missing since 2 p.m. Tuesday, and her last known whereabouts were in Merrillville, a locale situated approximately 141 miles northwest of Indianapolis; she was clad in a black hoodie and black pants adorned with multi-colored stripes details only add to the concern for her safety and well-being as police suggested she might be in considerable danger and potentially in need of medical assistance, WTHR furnished details on her physical description and what she was wearing at her last sighting.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department is currently spearheading the inquiry into Kirkwood's sudden absence with a heightened sense of determination, understanding the stakes tied to such disappearances, and the need for swift community action, like the missing 55-year-old who might necessitate medical aid, emphasizing the direness of the situation, which is echoed in a statement obtained by WTHR.

Community members and anyone with pertinent information regarding Kirkwood's current location or past movements are implored to connect with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department at 219-755-3400, or in the instance of immediate knowledge or sighting, to dial 911, as the collective efforts of the public can prove invaluable in circumstances such as these and contribute to a resolution that brings Kirkwood back to safety, which is a sentiment shared across the various reports including those from WRTV.