A 67-year-old Raytown man diagnosed with dementia has been missing since around 5 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2026, prompting police to ask the public for help tracking him down. Billy G. Williams was last seen walking away from his home in the 10000 block of East 85th Terrace, according to the Raytown Police Department, which is now leading the search across the Kansas City area.
Police describe Williams as a Black male standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 137 pounds, with gray hair, brown eyes, and a full beard. He was last seen wearing an NYPD ball cap, a red shirt, and dark blue jogging pants, as reported by KCTV. Anyone with information has been asked to call 911 or reach the Raytown Police Department's Communications Unit directly at 816-737-6020.
Why Time Matters So Much Right Now
Williams' disappearance falls squarely into a pattern that has alarmed public health researchers for years. According to data from the Alzheimer's Association, six in 10 people living with dementia will wander away from home at least once during the course of their illness, and many do so repeatedly. Wandering can strike at any stage of the disease, regardless of whether the person leaves on foot or by vehicle.
The clock is a genuine concern for investigators. Research compiled by the BrightFocus Foundation found that up to half of people with dementia who go missing on foot suffer serious injury or death if they are not located within the first 24 hours, with weather exposure and general safety risks among potential concerns. Alzheimer's Association clinical guidance also notes that wandering is often triggered by late-afternoon restlessness known as sundowning, or by former obligations, past places, and familiar routines, meaning searchers may want to watch old workplaces or transit routes Williams once used.
How Missouri's Alert System Works
Missouri's Endangered Silver Advisory program lists criteria including that a missing person is at least 60 years old, is believed to suffer from dementia or another cognitive impairment, has a report filed by a legal custodian, and has enough physical detail available for public broadcast. The advisory is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement and local broadcasters to rapidly disseminate information about a missing person.
Missouri has no mandatory 24-, 48-, or 72-hour waiting period before opening a missing persons investigation, allowing Raytown officers to begin search protocols immediately rather than waiting. Missing person reports in the state are logged into the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System and the National Crime Information Center as soon as they are received.
A Search That Won't Stay Within City Limits
The location where Williams was last seen remains a key detail for searchers. Williams was last seen in the 10000 block of East 85th Terrace. Raytown has a police department with a Communications Unit.
Williams' case is not an isolated one for the region this month. Hoodline previously reported that Kansas City police sought help finding Cole Wimes, a 62-year-old vulnerable adult who went missing earlier in September, underscoring how frequently these searches are unfolding across the metro right now. The Alzheimer's Association also provides information about Alzheimer's disease and caregiving in Missouri.
For now, Raytown investigators are focused on the immediate task of locating Williams. Anyone who sees him or has information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911 right away.
