TIFFIN, Ohio — On July 9, 75-year-old Susan Biller from Tiffin went missing around 4:40 pm. She has dementia. In a hurry to find her, the Tiffin Police Department posted on Facebook asking the community to be on the lookout.
"We went from 10 officers and firefighters to people checking their social media, and next thing we know we got half the community looking,” Seneca County Executive Police Officer Jason Windsor said.
After about four hours of searching, Biller was found under a tarp in an alley by a community member.
"(The community member) saw a tarp on the ground and thought she saw (something) move,” Windsor said. “She went to remove the tarp and there was our missing woman."
It was a quick rescue that could have been worse.
But Seneca County’s Sheriff’s Office Detective Misty Wheeler said it could have been faster if Biller was a part of the Project Lifesaver program.
"Since I've been a part of it, we've only had one person go missing and I think he was found within one hour,” Wheeler said.
The program offers people that are prone to wonder a bracelet. This includes those with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and autism.
The bracelet can be tracked by police. When it comes to cases like Biller's, people with dementia wander more than you think, Pam Myers with the Northwest Ohio and Central Ohio Alzheimer’s Association said.
"At any stage of the disease (someone) can do this,” Myers said. “Statistics say the six out of 10 people can wander. So, it's something that's common when you're a caregiver."
A piece of plastic in exchange for peace of mind. The bracelet is free thanks to fundraising through area Lion's Club organizations.
As for Biller, Wheeler hopes she's next to get one.
"Sometimes it takes something like that for us to realize that these people would benefit from the program,” Wheeler said.
According to Project Lifesavers website, the program is offered all around northwest Ohio, including in Lucas County.
To find out which law enforcement agency to contact to sign up, you can find out on the website.
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