The Peachtree City Police Department is searching for 80-year-old Albert Novotnak, who has been missing for over a day. Novotnak, who has Alzheimer's, was last seen early Sunday morning leaving his home in the Interlochen subdivision off North Peachtree Parkway. He was not dressed for the cold, raising concerns as temperatures drop.
According to FOX 5, alarmed family members reported him missing around 5 a.m. after he was found to have left without any clear destination. Investigators are now trying to retrace his steps, believing Novotnak may have accepted a ride from someone unaware of his condition. Surveillance efforts have included the review of footage from local areas, including the airport, though he has yet to be found.
A possible lead has emerged after a woman reported encountering an elderly man about 11 miles from Novotnak's home, asking for directions to Walmart. The Peachtree City Police noted this is not the first time Novotnak has wandered off, as mentioned by WSB-TV.
"He's just confused, and we just need to get him home," Novotnak's nephew, Jim Cox, expressed in a statement obtained by FOX 5.
Authorities and the family are asking anyone with information about Novotnak's whereabouts or who may have given him a ride to come forward. The Peachtree City Police can be contacted with any information, and his family remains hopeful, saying, "We’re praying for his safe return," in a FOX5 report.
