A 57-year-old Westerville woman who needs medication was reported missing Tuesday afternoon, prompting Ohio authorities to issue a statewide Endangered Missing Adult Alert. Candi Sykes was last seen around 1:30 p.m. walking away on foot from her home on Triesta Place, wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt, and officers expressed concern for her safety. She was found safe Wednesday.
According to 10TV WBNS, Sykes was found safe Wednesday. WSYX reported that the alert was canceled at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Westerville Division of Police listed 911 and 614-882-7444 for information.
An Apartments.com listing identifies a property on Triesta Place.
Why a 57-Year-Old Qualified for a Statewide Alert
Ohio's statewide Endangered Missing Adult Alert program also covers people with certified mental impairment and people with autism or another developmental disability. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 5502.522, law enforcement must determine that a disappearance poses a credible threat of immediate serious bodily harm or death; certification applies to the mental-impairment category, not the autism or developmental-disability category.
That legal threshold was recently reshaped by state lawmakers. House Bill 359, known as Joshua's Law, took effect September 17, 2026, removing the 24-hour grace period for missing children under 18 with autism or another developmental disability, according to SpecialNeeds.com. The 24-hour grace period remains for adults.
Cellphone Notifications for Missing Adults
Unlike AMBER Alerts for missing children, Ohio's Endangered Missing Adult Alerts do not push forced Wireless Emergency Alert notifications to cellphones.
Local Police Led the Search
The Westerville Division of Police led the search for Sykes. The department's alert listed 911 and 614-882-7444 as numbers for information about her whereabouts.
