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Missing man with Alzheimer’s disease found after hours-long search

Posted at 11:59 AM, Aug 13, 2015
and last updated 2015-08-13 20:29:24-04

UPDATE: Mr. Claiborne was found unharmed Thursday night at about 8 p.m. Thank you for sharing his story on social media.

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- A search that spanned from Henrico's East End to Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood continues Thursday night for a 64-year-old man with Alzheimer’s who walked away from an adult daycare facility.

WTVR CBS 6 crews spotted firefighters and police officers from Henrico and Richmond actively searching for Francis Claiborne after police said he walked away from Viable Adult Daycare in the 4500 block of Williamsburg Road around 9:30 a.m.

Police said Claiborne, who was last seen walking west on Williamsburg Road toward Richmond near Government and Williamsburg roads, suffers from Alzheimer’s and other mental and physical disabilities.

Claiborne is described as a black male, between six feet to six feet four inches tall and weighing 210 pounds. He has salt and pepper hair, brown eyes and is clean shaven. He was last seen wearing a blue Marine Corp ball cap, dark jeans and long sleeve plaid shirt. Officials also said he has a slow, stooped walk.

"It is important that we do find him. He may be in need of medical care and he may be disoriented at this time," said Lt. Todd Alvis with Henrico police.

An employee at a nearby business at the strip mall where the adult daycare is located said he has seen unsupervised patients smoking outside the facility, so he was not surprised one of them wandered off.

And that's what bothers Henrico resident Dinyatta Boykins.

"For them to be out here by themselves to... not knowing where they're going or what's going on, it's sad," Boykins said.

Henrico firefighters handed out flyers to area businesses in Sandston with hopes of finding Claiborne.

"That's awesome because it's making the community aware," said Boykins.

According to online records with the Virginia Department of Social Services, Viable Adult Day Care Center had a several violations in 2014, including failing to obtain a current photo or written description of three new patients. Additionally, the report stated the facility did not conduct evacuation drills were not being held as required by state law.

However, the facility's management did correct those problems during a site inspection.

If you have information that could help investigators, call 911 or Henrico Police at 804-501-5000.

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