Foothills man still missing after three weeks
It's been three weeks since an 82-year-old Foothills man went missing and the Yuma County Sheriff's Office says they are no closer to finding him.
“There has been no trace of him,” said Capt. Eben Bratcher, spokesman for YCSO. “It would be easier to understand if he was intentionally hiding.”
Laurence “Jack” Doering is 6 feet, 1 inch tall, weighs 170 pounds, and has gray hair and blue eyes. He has suffered from Alzheimer's the past four years and may be confused or lost.
According to the sheriff's office, Doering was last seen at about 9:45 a.m. Jan. 17 driving a gold 2002 Chevrolet Suburban with Idaho license plate number 4BB8469 southbound on Foothills Boulevard. He was wearing a gray sweater, blue shirt, blue jeans and black shoes.
Doering, who does not usually drive, was leaving the Foothills Plaza shopping center, located at 11256 S. Foothills Blvd., where he had gone to get a haircut, according to his wife. He was last seen driving in the direction of his residence, but never arrived.
Doering, who cannot use a phone or credit cards, had a $100 dollar bill in his wallet when he went missing, a quarter of a tank of gas in the vehicle, and no food or change of clothing. He will probably need medical attention by now.
He and his wife are from Blackfoot, Idaho, and family members believe it is possible that he may be trying to drive back there.
Bratcher said the most recent potential sighting of Doering occurred on Wednesday, when someone called the sheriff's office and told deputies that he had drinks with a person who resembled the missing man at the Ligurta Station Restaurant in Wellton about three days ago. Deputies are following up on that information.
There has been no transactions on any of Doering's bank accounts since he went missing and the sheriff's office has entered his license plate number and other information into the National Crime Information Center computer system, but there have been no hits on it yet.
The Yuma Sector Border Patrol's Air and Marine Division has done an aerial search of the surrounding desert but did not find any signs of Doering or his vehicle. Also, there is no record of his car going through any of the area ports of entry into Mexico.
Bratcher said he is concerned that Doering may have become separated from his vehicle and may be an unidentified patient in a hospital somewhere, or worse.
YCSO asks anyone with any information about Doering's whereabouts to call its Foothills Substation at 342-1477 or the main line at 783-4427. They can also call the Blackfoot Police Department at 208-785-1234.
