An 87-year-old woman who vanished from her Benson apartment complex was found safe at 4:41 p.m., capping off a tense search for local police and neighbors who had been asked to help. Judy Ann Mitchell was last seen the morning of October 10 at the Villa Del Sol apartments before she was reported missing.
According to KOLD, the Benson Police Department said Mitchell was found safe at 4:41 p.m. The station's report did not detail where she was located or describe her condition beyond confirming she was safe.
A Statewide Alert Pointed to Cochise County
Separately, an Arizona Department of Public Safety record indicated that a SAFE Alert had been issued for Cochise County, with a notice reading, “This is the Arizona Department of Public Safety. A safe Alert has been issued for Cochise County. The Benson Police Department is looking for 87-year-old Judy Mitchell,” according to Arizona DPS.
Arizona's SAFE Alert system is designed for cases just like this one. Per the state's SAFE Alerts program, the goal is “to locate the missing person when the SAFE Alert criteria are met through efficient information dissemination and communication that results in safe and expedient recovery.” The alert is only issued once the investigating law enforcement agency submits a request and the person meets specific criteria, including being at least 65 years old or having a diagnosed developmental disability, cognitive disability, Alzheimer's disease, or dementia, per the same program description.
Community Kept Watch Through Local Channels
News of Mitchell's disappearance and safe return circulated through the Benson Police Department's Facebook page, a channel the department uses to keep residents informed on local safety matters. As search efforts unfolded, the case highlighted the use of tools like the SAFE Alert system when an elderly resident goes missing.
