Missing Upper Darby man found, back home
UPPER DARBY » A 75-yearold man with dementia whose disappearance early Wednesday sparked great concern was reunited with his wife after police officers found him in an apartment on the floor above their basement unit on Providence Road.
“He never left the building,” police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said of Francisco Martinez, who was found safe and sound about 6:15 p.m. Thursday. “He is back home.”
Chitwood credited Sgt. Tom Johnson and Detective Tom Fitzpatrick, who spent part of Thursday reviewing surveillance video.
“They never saw him leave,” he said, noting there are two entrance/exit doors to the apartment building in the Primos section of the township.
The officers returned to the apartment building Thursday about 5:45 p.m. and after going door to door, including vacant units, for a second time, Chitwood said, “They opened the door to one of the apartments and there he was. He was by himself.”
Chitwood said the apartment where he was found is occupied but the residents were not at home.
Martinez was last seen by his wife at midnight Wednesday.
Though his medical condition alone would have listed him as an endangered missing person, Chitwood was especially concerned because of the frigid temperature and appealed to the community Wednesday morning for help in finding him.
The extensive efforts included a helicopter search of the area by the Pennsylvania State Police, as well as K-9 assistance and robo calls to township residents, according to Chitwood.
“We did a full court press,” he said.