A 24-year-old man with autism from Sharon Springs is the subject of a statewide Purple Alert after vanishing with his whereabouts unknown. Dakota Lane Langdell was last seen at 228 North Kennedy in Sharon Springs, wearing a gray shirt and blue jeans, and possibly a hat.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued the alert for Langdell, according to KSHB 41 Kansas City. He is described as a white man around 5 feet 6 inches tall and approximately 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Investigators believe he may be traveling south toward Stratford, Texas, though his exact location remains unconfirmed.
What to Do if You Spot Him
The KBI is asking anyone who sees Langdell to call 911 immediately. The public is also asked to report any information about his whereabouts to the Wallace County Sheriff's Office at 785-852-4286.
Sharon Springs sits in Wallace County in far western Kansas, near the Colorado border, making the possibility that Langdell traveled south toward the Texas Panhandle a significant lead for searchers covering a wide stretch of rural highway.
How Kansas's Purple Alert System Works
Purple Alerts are a relatively new tool in Kansas, having started in 2024 specifically for missing adults with intellectual disabilities, according to KSNT 27 News. The station describes the alert as applying when a person 18 or older goes missing, is believed to be in imminent danger, and is unable to return to safety without assistance. Kansas law establishes the Purple Alert plan to provide public notice of a missing individual with intellectual or developmental disabilities, according to the Kansas Legislature.
No further details on Langdell's condition or the search effort have been released. Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities right away rather than wait for additional updates.
