By Liam Verster

Joseph Nohat found

Missing elderly man found in Edmonton

Jul 24, 2020 | 12:05 PM

A 67-year-old man who went missing on Wednesday has been found in Edmonton, alive and well.

Joseph Nohat wandered off from his 24-hour care facility in the Royal Oaks area on Wednesday afternoon, and, because it was out of character for him to leave, staff reported him as missing.

After not being found for more than a full day, the RCMP received reports of Nohat being picked up while hitchhiking. He reportedly got into a blue vehicle heading west on 132 Avenue in the Arbour Hills area.

Then, late Friday morning, Nohat was located in Edmonton, and the police picked him up.

Cpl Luke St-Hilaire with the Grande Prairie RCMP, says Nohat is alive and well.

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“He probably needs his medication, but he appeared in fairly good health when he was found.”

St-Hilaire says Nohat doesn’t have family in Edmonton, though one of the care home workers had told the RCMP that he used to live in the city, which he says may have been the reason he was drawn down there.

He adds that this was a very odd conclusion to the missing person case, to have an elderly man like Nohat travel so far in the matter of days.

“Especially in the condition that was described to us, it’s very rare. I’ve never seen it in my 11 years of policing. So, no it’s not common, and it’s not common for him to leave either, he’s not a person who typically leaves like that. So we’re just very happy he’s alive and well.”

St-Hilaire says a ride is being arranged to bring Nohat back to his home.

In the meantime, he would like to thank all the groups and people who helped in the effort of locating Nohat.

“We had Search and Rescue from Grande Prairie, Peace River and (the MD of) Greenview. We had LaFlamme Aviation help us, we had the Grande Prairie Fire Department, Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership, City employees from various departments here in town.

“We had Lakeshore Regional Police help us and Edmonton Police help us. St. Catherine’s School allowed us to stay at the school. We had City Social Services help us, local taxi companies help us, and of course a huge number of the general public who called in tips and information that was critical and important for us to follow up on, and eventually achieve in eventually finding this individual.”