Police Searching For Missing Elderly Washington Co. Man
NORTH BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP (KDKA) - The search for a missing man in Washington County has been suspended for the evening due to severe weather.
George Pochiba, 88, went missing from his home on Crescent Road in North Bethlehem Township Tuesday around 6:30 p.m.
KDKA's Harold Hayes Reports:
Pochiba is 5-feet-9-inches tall and weighs around 130 pounds. He was wearing blue jeans and a blue and white plaid shirt. He has hazel eyes and is balding, with white hair.
"Apparently, he indicated just prior to leaving the residence – basically, that he was going to go to the farm to feed the animals, which at his own residence does not exist. What his mind is thinking at this point, we're not sure," Trooper Stefanie Plume said.
Pochiba suffers from dementia.
KDKA's Harold Hayes Reports:
"He normally doesn't wander far. He goes to the garden, sits on the porch. He has never done anything like this, but with Alzheimer's patients, it's very hard. You have to keep the doors locked and keep an eye on him 24-7," said Pochiba's niece, Carol Logar.
Several fire departments in the area helped State Police with the search that went well into the morning hours on Wednesday.
Officials said that the search dogs all responded to the same point, an area where crews needed daylight and possibly ATVs to continue the search.
The search was called off around 4:30 a.m., but crews resumed the search around 8 a.m. with help from a police helicopter.
KDKA's Trina Orlando Reports:
Troopers also went door-to-door to alert neighbors about the search.
State Police released this statement about suspending the search:
"The investigators have called off the search for now. With bad weather in the area and no further leads on Mr. Pochiba's whereabouts the search will be called off unless any further leads are obtained."
State police say they covered about a six mile radius during the daylight hours of Wednesday.
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