Donald Rapson is Missing *deceased*

[Sister Iroz]

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo35/Special2bme/090115_4002_320.jpg
Parkersburg Police need your help finding a missing man.

Donald Rapson, 82, has been missing since Tuesday morning.

Investigators say Rapson was last seen shopping his wife around 11:30 a.m. that morning.

He went to get something from his vehicle, but instead drove away.

Police found his vehicle over an embankment in Wetzel County.

Rapson is 5'6, he has hazel eyes.

If you have any information call Parkersburg Police at (304) 424-8444.


http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/0901/090115_3363c0c6.shtml

[Abroad]

He went to get something from his vehicle, but instead drove away.

Sounds odd? Was he in any way suffering from confusion or dementia? Is that known?

[Rockin Ma]

Car Jacking?

[Dakota Valkyrie]

The search for a missing Parkersburg elderly man ended around 5:45 p.m. Friday.

Volunteer firefighters found the body of Donald Rapson near a large log brush pile about 200 yards away from the parked van he was driving.

It appears the 82-year-old who suffered from Alzheimer's Disease was trying to get under the pile to seek shelter from the cold.

Hoskins said the area is heavily wooded and Rapson was found off a makeshift road only energy companies use for natural gas.

Family members said they believe Rapson was trying to go home to Michigan, went up Route 2 and then veered off course.

Hoskins said the keys were still in the ignition of the van. It appears the van got stuck, Rapson tried to put the van in reverse to back out and wasn't successful. Then he got out and started walking to seek shelter.http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/37765939.html

How sad.

[Abroad]

Makes me wonder why he was allowed to go to the car to fetch something by himself? Though of course the Altzheimers could be worsening faster than his companion had realised......

Tragic ending to the story.

[~Absynthe~]

poor fella to bad for his family!

[Pete Bondurant]

This man should have been prohibited from operating a motor vehicle altogether and this may not have occurred.

[Abroad]

This man should have been prohibited from operating a motor vehicle altogether and this may not have occurred.

You know, Pete, I am beginning to think the word "blunt" was coined specifically with you in mind. And I am not referring to your razors, - they are obviously very sharp......

[Unamused Cat]

Update: Found Deceased


The search for a missing Parkersburg elderly man ended around 5:45 p.m. Friday.

Wetzel County Sheriff James Hoskins said volunteer firefighters found the body of Donald Rapson near a large log brush pile about 200 yards away from the parked van he was driving.

It appears the 82-year-old who suffered from Alzheimer's Disease was trying to get under the pile to seek shelter from the cold.

Sheriff Hoskins said he does not suspect foul play was involved. He did not release the cause of death.

Hoskins said the area is heavily wooded and Rapson was found off a makeshift road only energy companies use for natural gas. Parkersburg Police Chief Gerald Board said the road is off Route 89.

Rapson was last seen Tuesday at the Christian Book Store on Garfield Avenue in Parkersburg and his van was found Wednesday in Wetzel County.

Family members said they believe Rapson was trying to go home to Michigan, went up Route 2 and then veered off course.

Hoskins said the keys were still in the ignition of the van. It appears the van got stuck, Rapson tried to put the van in reverse to back out and wasn't successful. Then he got out and started walking to seek shelter.

http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/37765939.html