UPDATE: 85-year-old found alive at Girl Scout Camp after all night multiple agency search… unknown how she survived…
UPDATE FROM BREWSTER POLICE: [8:15am press statement] In regards to the previously issued press release for a missing 85 year old female, she has been located.
Just before 7:30 a.m., Police and fire personnel responded to Camp Favorite (a Brewster Girl Scout Camp, closed for the season) after being contacted by a caretaker at that facility. The 85 year old woman who was the subject of an extensive search overnight was located there and transported to Cape Cod Hospital to be evaluated for exposure to the elements. It is unknown at this point if she was outside all night, or if she was able to find
some shelter.
Initial HN coverage:
BREWSTER – Multiple agencies, including the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, combed bike paths and wooded areas spanning five towns searching for an elderly woman missing from an assisted living facility.
At about 6:45pm last evening, police received a report from the Epoch Assistance Living Residence on Route 124, that a resident was overdue at the facility. Police and firefighters responded and commenced a search of the facility and surrounding area, with negative results so far.
The massive search involved two K-9 units from the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department. ATVs and a boat were used. A state police helicopter hovered overhead while communicating with patrols on the ground. Brewster Firefighters searched using flashlights and thermal imaging equipment, while Brewster Police Patrols had their hands full with not just one, but two separate searches…
Right when Brewster Police were sending out a reverse 911 call explaining the helicopters and commotion to residents in the area, all hell broke out at a completely separate incident. Brewster police suddenly found themselves also searching for a man and woman from a nearby domestic disturbance. The woman reportedly was forced from her residence at knife-point. State troopers and police from surrounding towns were notified. Meanwhile, concerned Brewster residents called police dispatch to offer assistance in searching for the elderly woman. For safety reasons, police did not encourage the public to search since they were also looking in basically the same area for a volatile male armed with a knife… After about 30 minutes, the male and female from the domestic disturbance were located and transported to Brewster Police Headquarters. (Due to new Massachusetts law, specific information related domestic incidents is no longer freely released.)
The search for the 85-year-old continued…
Police from neighboring Harwich, Orleans, Chatham, and Eastham checked specific areas in their towns.
Much of the search was focused on the paved bike trails (Cape Cod Rail Trails) that connect surrounding towns.
The missing woman, Elizabeth Simmons, age 85, is suspected to have left the area on foot. It is possible that she may be attempting to head to Eastham, where she previously lived.
(Ms. Simmons was possibly last scene at around 3pm by a cleaning lady at the facility, but that information has not yet been officially confirmed.)
Ms. Simmons is a white female, who was last seen wearing a blue winter coat.
Temperatures were below freezing last evening…
The search is ongoing…
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brewster Police Department at 508-896-7011.
The following video highlights the scene back at the assisted living facility. It also shows firefighters searching a nearby construction area… [Press play… select HD in the settings…]
The following is the actual Brewster Police press statement:
BREWSTER POLICE SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSON
Brewster, MA– On January 20th, at approximately 6:45pm, police received a report from an assisted living facility on Route 124, that a resident was overdue at the facility. Police responded and commenced a search of the facility and surrounding area, with negative results so far. The missing party, identified as Elizabeth Simmons (age 85) is suspected to have left the area on foot. It is possible that she may be attempting to head to Eastham, where she previously lived. Brewster Police are being assisted in the search by Brewster Fire & Rescue, Barnstable County Sheriff’s K-9, State Police Air Wing and ground units, along with police agencies from surrounding towns. Ms. Simmons is a white female, who was last seen wearing a blue winter coat. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brewster Police Department at 508-896-7011.
[Top insert photo of missing person and above press statement provided by Captain Heath J. Eldredge of the Brewster Police Department.]
1/21/2015
Robert Bastille,
