On Friday, July 3, 2020 at 7:55pmCT, Adair County Deputy Derek Padgett, who was patrolling Green River Lake for the holiday weekend, was approached by a camper from Woodford County, KY. The female advised they had a 54-year old male family member with dementia who had left their campsite on foot, and they were unable to find him. The lake was busy with all campsites occupied to capacity, as well as visitors and boaters who had come to the lake for the holiday weekend.
Deputy Padgett notified Emergency Management Director Mike Keltner of the situation, who started activating additional resources to respond to the scene while Deputies Padgett and Durbin started the initial search. Deputy Emergency Management Director Chad Wheat arrived on scene, along with Columbia-Adair County Fire Department. Emergency Services and several campers who volunteered their assistance, began to search for the missing man. Approximately 1 hour later, the individual was found safe and unharmed. He was returned to his campsite and was reunited with his family.
The Sheriffs Office wants to thank everyone who came out and helped search for the individual.
