Thanks to an alert resident, a trail camera and a trusty K9 with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, a missing elderly man with dementia was found safe.
On Friday, a Silver Alert was issued after 78-year-old William Earl Scott walked away from his residence off County Road 315.
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Deputies said on Tuesday that a resident in the “Florida Rock’s sand pits” area had a trail camera that possibly caught the missing man walking Friday evening with a handheld saw.
According to a news release, Sgt. Merritt and K9 Grace with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office arrived and started tracking Scott’s scent.
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Deputies said that K9 Grace tracked more than 2 miles to Florida Rock and along the way located a sock, footprint and the hacksaw Scott carried.
According to the release, the deputy gave K9 Grace a much-needed break and called for two fresh bloodhounds from St. Johns County.
Deputies said that as they were beginning to start a final track, the missing man walked out of the woods and was spotted by a plant manager about 100 yards from K9 Grace’s location.
“There is no doubt in my mind K9 Grace and Sgt. Merritt are the reason we are able to return Mr. Scott to his family alive and safe,” Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach said. “We searched numerous locations including ponds and were honestly fearing the worst as the days continued and we had no sightings.”
Scott was transported to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital for evaluation, officials said.
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