A senior alert is active for a 69-year-old Thornton man who disappeared on foot early Saturday morning and needs medication for a cognitive impairment. Thomas Francis Ortiz was last seen around 6:30 a.m. near Thornton Parkway and Grant Street, and authorities are asking anyone who spots him to call 911 right away.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued the alert Saturday, describing Ortiz as a 6-foot-2, 210-pound Hispanic man with brown hair and hazel eyes, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a dark blue or black short-sleeved shirt, and gray shoes. The agency's alert specifically notes that Mr. Ortiz suffers from a cognitive impairment and needs medication, underscoring the urgency of locating him quickly.
What to Do If You Spot Him
CBI is directing the public to call 911 immediately if Ortiz is spotted, or to reach the Thornton Police Department directly at 720-977-5150. The agency's alert also notes that media inquiries about the case should go through the same Thornton police number. The alert includes instructions for reporting sightings and handling media inquiries.
The bureau shared the same details in a social media post from its account, cbi_colorado, repeating the last-seen time and location as well as the note about his medical needs and the instruction to call 911 or the Thornton Police Department if he is seen.
A Familiar Challenge Across Colorado
Cases like Ortiz's are not uncommon in the state. On any given day in Colorado, there are about 1,200 missing person cases open at once, according to KOAA. Of those, roughly 680 involve people who have been missing for more than a year, the outlet reports, a reminder of how quickly the first hours and days of a search can matter.
CBI maintains a missing-persons database for Colorado, according to a listing on cbi.colorado.gov.
For now, the search for Ortiz is active, and authorities are relying on the public's eyes to help bring him home safely. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or the Thornton Police Department at the number listed in the alert.
