A 65-year-old Knob Noster woman who was due for surgery to remove excess fluid from her brain has been missing for 10 days, and police say it is unknown whether she has access to the daily medications she needs. Tracey Lashelle Sample was last seen at 4 p.m. on September 6 in the 700 block of Kendrick Street after leaving her residence; her direction was unknown following an argument with her husband, according to police.
The Knob Noster Police Department has issued an Endangered Silver Advisory for Sample, describing her as commonly disoriented and very confused, as reported by KSHB 41 Kansas City. Police say she was previously diagnosed with stomach cancer, and her family has said she was supposed to undergo surgery to remove excess brain fluid. It remains unknown whether Sample currently has access to her medications, according to the same report.
A Medical Condition That Mimics Dementia
Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition that produces progressive disorientation, memory loss, confusion, and difficulty walking that can closely resemble dementia, according to the Hydrocephalus Association. The condition is estimated to affect hundreds of thousands of older Americans and is frequently underdiagnosed.
Adult hydrocephalus can cause rapidly worsening balance, severe headaches, and acute confusion, per the Pacific Neuroscience Institute. Treatment for the condition typically involves installing a shunt to relieve pressure on brain tissue, though it's unclear whether Sample had that procedure scheduled before she disappeared.
Why the State Stepped In
Missouri activates an Endangered Silver Advisory only when a missing person is 60 or older, is believed to have dementia or another cognitive impairment, has a report filed by a legal custodian, and enough descriptive detail exists to help the public, per Missouri State Highway Patrol guidelines. Once activated, the advisory triggers rapid notifications through the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System and the Missouri Information Analysis Center, along with alerts to local media, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and electronic highway message boards run by the state transportation department, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol guidelines.
That statewide push matters because Knob Noster's own police force is small. The department operates with six full-time sworn officers and two civilian employees covering a city of fewer than 3,000 residents, per Police Census data drawn from 2025 FBI law enforcement metrics — leaving the department reliant on regional partners to widen the search.
A Vehicle and Plate to Watch For
Police believe Sample may be traveling in a blue 2016 Ford Focus bearing Missouri handicapped plates numbered GE79S. Knob Noster sits along U.S. Highway 50, roughly 60 miles east of Kansas City and 10 miles east of Warrensburg, according to the City of Knob Noster — a route that connects small central Missouri towns directly to major metro areas.
The city also borders Whiteman Air Force Base. That location means someone driving nearby could spot Sample's car and plate.
The Clock Is a Factor
Sample has now been missing for 10 days.
Missouri law requires police to immediately enter a missing person's profile into state and national crime databases once a report is filed, with no mandatory waiting period, per the Miller County Sheriff's Office — a detail that counters a common public misconception that families must wait 24 hours to report someone missing. Statewide, more than 1,847 adult missing person reports were filed in Missouri through mid-August of this year, with over 600 remaining active and unresolved, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol records cited in an earlier Hoodline report.
Anyone who sees Sample is asked to call 911 immediately. The Knob Noster Police Department can also be reached at (660) 747-5511.
