Pascagoula Police Searching For Missing Elderly Man

Mississippi Louisiana 82-year-old Robert Benefield who suffers from dementia left home around 11:30 Wednesday morning to go to the store. He was last seen by a trucker in Alexandria Louisiana.

by Jamie Burch

Published: Thu, September 10, 2009 - 10:10 am CST Last Updated: Thu, September 10, 2009 - 1:44 pm CST

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi - Pascagoula police are asking you to keep your eyes open for a missing elderly man.

82-year-old Robert Benefield left home around 11:30 Wednesday morning to go to the store. The last time his family heard from him, he was on the side of I-10.

Benefield's family went to look for him, but he wasn't there. His cell phone is either turned off or the battery is dead. The family is worried because Benefield has heart trouble and suffers from dementia.

A truck driver spotted Benefield around 4:15 Thursday morning on I-49 in Alexandria, Louisiana. He was traveling west in the eastbound lanes. The truck driver managed to get Benefield to stop. Benefield told the truck driver he was trying to get to Pascagoula.

The truck driver told Benefield he was going the wrong direction adn explained how to get there. But Benefield didn't follow the directions and was last seen traveling north over the “The Purple Heart Bridge” on Highway 167.

Benefield is 6’0", 160 lbs., with blue eyes and grey hair. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, blue shorts and a Navy Veteran ball cap. Benefield is driving a dark green, 2006 GMC Sierra pickup truck, with a with a gold bed cover and Mississippi Tag P2018.

If you've seen Benefield or know where to find him, please call the Pascagoula Police Department at 228.762.2211.

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