The Oklahoma Highway Patrol issued a Silver Alert for Patretia Mathews, a 71-year-old woman from Bristow, who was reported missing since last Friday. According to KOCO, Mathews is battling dementia and has not been seen since she purportedly left to look at houses.
FOX23 reported that Mathews was last seen wearing a blue shirt and blue shorts. She has blue eyes, is 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighs about 245 pounds. The Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office has advised the public not to conduct their own searches, as this could interfere with search dogs. Her vehicle, a silver 2018 Subaru Outback, was found unoccupied in Okmulgee by the Bristow Police Department. The search is currently focused near Jones and Webster Roads, with authorities using drones and tracking dogs. The Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office is leading the search.
The Sheriff’s Office said technology and trained animals are important in the search for Mathews due to her condition. Officials said unorganized volunteer searchers could distract the search dogs and slow the process. Authorities continue to search and are asking anyone with information on Mathews’ whereabouts to contact them, as mentioned by KTUL.
