The Gwinnett County Police Department can now breathe a sigh of relief as Edison Jerry Yartue, the 65-year-old Lawrenceville man who went missing Saturday afternoon, has been found safe and returned to his home on Sunday. Concern was particularly high for Yartue due to his various severe health conditions, including dementia and Stage 5 kidney disease, which left him vulnerable while he was unaccounted for.
A Mattie's Call, Georgia's emergency missing alert for disabled or elderly persons, was issued after Yartue, who also suffers from seizures, diabetes, and hypertension was last seen in the area on Mercury Drive. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, he was believed to be moving on foot and may have been disoriented due to his medical issues.
In their search efforts, Gwinnett police left no stone unturned, "Officers have walked throughout the neighborhood going door-to-door seeking any information on his whereabouts," said Gwinnett Police Cpl. Dustin Martin-Young, as reported by AccessWDUN. The search included the K9 Unit and GSP Aviation, emphasizing the urgency and seriousness of locating Yartue.
Residents in the vicinity were asked to check their doorbell and flood light cameras as part of the community-wide search effort, a testament to the close-knit vigilance often required in times of communal crisis. "Police say that nearby residents are being encouraged to review any doorbell and flood light cameras for any sightings of Yartue," detailed a report from AccessWDUN. Details on how Yartue was found have not been released.
