UPDATE: Missing woman Gwendolyn Gerlach was located safe in Petersburg Friday evening after a tip by an alert citizen.
Hope Police say they were contacted by the citizen around 5 p.m. Friday. The citizen indicated that they had recently observed Gerlach at the Petersburg Public Library, located in the 200 Block of W. Washington Street.
Shortly thereafter, Gerlach was located by a Petersburg Police officer and safely returned home.
“The Hopewell Police Department wishes to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the alert citizen, the officer, as well as, the media who all played vital roles in locating and returning Ms. Gwendolyn Gerlach home safely,” said a Hopewell Police in a press release.
HOPEWELL, Va. -- Authorities are asking for the public’s help to find a missing 69-year-old woman with dementia in Hopewell.
Police said workers at an adult day center in the 400 block of E. Broadway last saw Gwendolyn Gerlach on Thursday.
"It is believed that she is not in possession of her prescribed medications," officials said in a news release.
Officials said Gerlach is known to frequent the cities of Richmond, Petersburg and Hopewell.
While officers said they do not suspect foul play, they are urging folks to be on the lookout for Gerlach so they can "bring her home safely."
Gerlach is described as a black female, 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 100 pounds. She has brown eyes and black and gray hair.
