Fort Collins Police Seek Help Locating Missing 78-Year-Old Man
Fort Collins Police are asking for the public's help locating a missing 78-year-old man named Terry who was last seen around 5:00 p.m. September 24 in the 500-block of Whedbee Street.
Police classified Terry as an at-risk adult, a designation that triggers immediate entry into national and state databases and mobilizes additional investigative resources. The alert was issued September 25 at 5:10 p.m., approximately 24 hours after Terry was last seen.
Under Colorado law, an at-risk adult is defined as someone 18 years or older who is susceptible to mistreatment or self-neglect because they cannot perform services necessary for their health, safety or welfare, or lack capacity to make responsible decisions, according to state Adult Protection Services guidelines. For missing person cases, the definition expands to include persons with dementia, developmental disabilities, or individuals 60 or older with impaired mental conditions whose disappearance poses a credible threat to their safety.
The Whedbee Street area where Terry was last seen is a residential neighborhood in central Fort Collins, located between College Avenue and Shields Street near several senior living facilities and medical offices.
Fort Collins Police Services follows established protocols that require immediate action when an at-risk adult is reported missing, with no mandatory waiting period before beginning the investigation. Officers immediately enter the person's information into the National Crime Information Center and Colorado Crime Information Center databases, and can issue public alerts within hours of confirming an at-risk situation.
The case comes just days after Fort Collins Police sought help identifying an elderly woman found walking alone in southeast Fort Collins who was unable to identify herself or her caregiver. That incident on September 19 highlighted the challenges faced by families dealing with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation data indicates that over 95% of missing at-risk adult cases statewide are resolved within 72 hours, most often through police investigation, public tips and community engagement. The state averages several hundred missing at-risk adult reports annually.
Local resources available to assist families during missing person incidents include Larimer County Sheriff's Search and Rescue teams, Adult Protective Services through Larimer County Human Services, and volunteer organizations such as Community Emergency Response Teams that can be activated for prolonged searches.
Families dealing with at-risk adults have access to prevention resources including the Larimer County Office on Aging, which offers caregiver support and respite care services, and the Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter, which provides a 24-hour support helpline at 800-272-3900. Prevention technologies such as GPS tracking devices are also recommended for individuals with cognitive impairments.
Anyone who has seen someone fitting Terry's description is asked to contact Fort Collins Police immediately at (970) 221-6540.