A 65-year-old Startex man with dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was reported missing after telling a friend by phone that he was in trouble near the old mill area. Deputies later reported that Jeffrey Russell had been located and was being evaluated by medical personnel. Russell was last seen wearing blue jeans, a gray shirt with an American flag design, and brown shoes, and he has no access to a car, according to authorities.
According to Fox Carolina, Russell spoke with a friend by phone around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and said he was in the Startex mill area and was in trouble. The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office initially believed he was still in that area. Deputies reported around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday that Russell had been located and was being evaluated by medical personnel. Russell is described as five feet 10 inches tall, weighing 240 pounds, with brown eyes and white hair, and he may have been wearing glasses.
Community missing-person posts identify Russell as a Startex resident, according to a Facebook post from the community. Those same posts provided context for the search. Local missing-person advisories also note that Russell has dementia, a detail included in coverage.
A Landscape of Rivers and Old Mill Buildings
Startex was the focus of the search for Russell. Anyone with information was asked to call the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
The search occurred in August, and Russell's reported COPD was noted in coverage. The available reporting does not establish specific heat-related risks or medical effects.
Why the First Hours Matter So Much
The search underscored the importance of rapid community reporting when someone goes missing.
Available reporting does not address South Carolina's Silver Alert system or whether the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office participates in Project Lifesaver. Whether Russell was enrolled in that program was not addressed in available reporting.
Available reporting does not detail the role of license plate readers or coordination with neighboring agencies in this case. Deputies later reported that Russell had been located and was being evaluated by medical personnel.
