Authorities searching for 94-year-old woman last seen in San Juan Capistrano

Orange County deputies are asking for help finding a 94-year-old woman who was last weekend.

Shirley Airth was last seen leaving her home in the 32000 block of Via Buena in San Juan Capistrano on Dec. 18, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Deputies said she is "known for going out for walks." Authorities are concerned that she may have wandered far away from her home.

"She currently has dementia and like a lot of people with dementia she's starting to get a little paranoid," her son Brian Airth said. "She might be hiding because she's getting paranoid. ... Please look at your storage spaces and cars." 

She was last seen wearing a yellow and white shirt, black sweater with white sparkles and using a black cane. Airth stands at about 5 feet 6 inches tall. She is described as weighing about 160 pounds, with light gray hair and hazel eyes. According to her family, she did not bring her cellphone or wallet along with her.

"She has four children, nine grandchildren," her son said. "She moved here 27 years ago. ... She loves to hike and golf." 

Her family described her as "very friendly" but has become more "reclusive" recently. 

"It's a first," her son said. "We were absolutely on our guard watching her... These symptoms have just popped up. ... Sometimes she's very coherent and sometimes she's not." 

With unusually cold temperatures affecting the area, Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies ramped up their search for Airth Tuesday evening, scouring the popular San Juan Creek area on horseback.

"Obviously, the longer someone's missing the more concerned we get," said Deputy Grant Meyer. "We're gonna be able to look down into things more, making sure all our search and rescue personnel that have been out here the last few days didn't miss anything."

Anyone with information should call the Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000.