MIA: my dad
 

My dad came up to see me this past week. He lives in Arkansas and I'm in Wisconsin. His memory has been getting worse of the last couple of years and it's starting to concern us. It's to the point where he won't remember asking a question just 5 minutes ago. Makes for some frustrating conversations. Anyways, he left Monday morning to head home. For most of us, it would be a long one day drive. He likes to stretch it to two. I know that he stopped on Monday night at a hotel in Springfield, Illinois. The problem is that he hasn't made it home. He always calls when he gets in and he didn't call. Earlier tonight, I left him a message at home. Now it's well past dark and still no call. Ok, time to start checking around. I called the local town police officer, but he was sick and was not running his route. It's a small town. So I called the county Sheriff. They were incredibly helpful. Other police departments should be using these guys as a model to work by. They promptly sent an officer out to his house, but there was no sign of his truck or the trailer that he was towing. They called me back and offered to put some sort of a bulletin out to the 3 states that he could have traveled through. Beyond, that I really don't know what else to do. He doesn't have a cell phone. He does have a credit card so he proably is able to keep gas in the truck. I assume that if he broke down on the highway, that the bulletin would turn something up as a officer would have proably helped him. What I fear is that he took a wrong turn and is in a different state. Having over 24 hours to drive (at a slow pace) he could be several hundred miles off course. How on earth do you find somebody like this? The only way to track him would be by his credit card. He has to be buying gas with something. Beyond it being a Master Card, I have no other information on it. Any ideas?

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Why not give a full description of the car and trailer he's driving. There are members everywhere. Good luck.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Good idea. He's drive a pewter S-10 pickup. The model that is lifted up with 31" tires. Extended cab short box, 4wd. It has ZR-2 stickers on the box. He was pulling a small trailer with a red log splitter on it. I don't have the license plate number. The county boys said they could get it. He was taking I-55 south out of Illinois to I-44 through Missouri. He then headed south across or to the west of Bull Shoals lake. He could have taken either route.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Wow, I hope you find him and that he's okay. I'm sure the police or an OSOer would see him. Good luck.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

For some reason, the county guys are not able to come up with a tag number from my description. Are any board members able to get it for me? I don't know if I should be posting some of his info on the board here, but maybe if you could e-mail or call me I could give it to you. My e-mail address is [email protected] and the number is 262-243-9663. Thanks guys!

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Do you know what type of credit card? If so you might have some luck calling them and see what kind of charges , where and when they were put on.... you might have to badger them to give you some info so you might have to explain the situation. Good Luck and keep us updated.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Wow.
Best of luck. Hope he turns up soon.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Trouty... I take back all those bad things I've ever said about you.......... :drink:

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Do some checking around and see if they can use an Amber Alert somehow. This is a wonderful tool that has saved I believe two people in Kansas in the last few weeks. Wish they had it when we needed it.
Is he dependant on medication that could endanger his well being??? That may be enough to convince them to issue an alert.
Also not to sound less than optimistic, because I'm praying for him and your whole family, but if it stretches to the weekend call Americas Most Wanted and ask them to help. Don't wait, do it now just in case!!! When we needed them we sent them a tape (before e-mail was so common and we all had digital cameras) on Thursday or Friday and they played a clip on their show THAT weekend. They were the greatest. Also print fax and e-mail flyers to all Law enforcement agencies where you think he may travel. Give them out at truck stops and ask truckers to pass 'em to toll booth attendants to tape to their booths and to place them in truck stops and anywhere. You may even call 1 800 THE LOST I believe,I AM NOT making a joke and I believe there's another 1 800 MISSING and they may have ideas. Might search tne web on those. Also many states have the message signs above the highways too.
See if GM has a way of tracking work in dealerships since they record VIN's on anything they touch now days. Maybe he had a problem and is hanging out while they fix it and didn't want to worry you. You know how we all get sometimes.
Good Luck,
I'm Pullin' and Praying for you all,
Don

Re: MIA: my dad
 

best of luck cord we are praying for you and your family ! keep us informed . :( robbie

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Give the Police his information such as birthdate,address and anything that could hep search CC Company records for his Credit Card info. They can get info from Credit Card Company when an individual may not be able too.
Did they have you file a missing persons report? Sometimes once you make it "Offical" it opens more doors for you and them to use searching.
Best Of Luck,
Don

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Cord, I hope all is well man, I'm sure it will turn out ok in the end. When it does, buy your pops a cell phone, even a pre-paid one will work perfect. We get so used to all the technology we have and how in touch we are all the time that when something like this happens it really makes you feel helpless. Reminds me of my favorite saying in the world, old fishermans quote "O Lord, thy sea is so great, and my boat is so small.“ Just don't forget whos sea it is your father has become lost in.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Cord, If its any help we have a fleet of 70+ trucks with qualcomm access and I can send a msg to all trucks. My trucks are in and out of Long Island to all 48 states. A good portion leave by thursday throughout the weekend and I'll put flyers out. I sent you a PM, CALL ME I hope this will help.
Stan

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Hope you have some good news soon!

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Tim, I'm home all day I guess (see my earlier thread). Let me know if I can help.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Were Praying for the Best.. Good luck Cord.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Our hopes and prayers are all ends well.There is child in this area that has a disability that has run away several times.Resulting in search efforts.The family had to purchase a Personal GPS locator. Maybe these could help. http://www.wherifywireless.com/corp_home.htm

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Cord good luck buddy.

Tempest38 email me your email [email protected]

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Cord, I hope your father turns up quickly and in the best of health. You are both in my thoughts and prayers.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Best of luck, I sure hate to hear this. Some great advice here, I am POSITIVE he will turn up shortly, unharmed. Keep the faith and if there is anything I can do do not hestitate to PM me. I am sure I speak for 100's of the members here when I say this.

Stay positive, dont panic. I am sure this is more common than we all think. Good luck.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Tim has some news... I'll let him tell you though

Re: MIA: my dad
 

come on Mike give it up!

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Well, this morning I got a call from him. He first got in this morning. He said that he stopped at a restaurant in Missouri and then took a wrong turn after that. I couldn't get from him just where he went, but he said that it was a couple of hundred miles. Somehow he was able to get turned back around and find his way home. If he hadn't, who knows how long he would have been driving around. As it is, he was missing for 48 hours and who know where he was.

I wish to say thanks for all of your warm wishes. I wish to specifically thank Cig1988 who personally called me this morning to volunteer his services. THANK YOU!

Apparently, Arkansas is not able to look up his tag number with his address. Their data base just isn't linked that way. The local Sheriff was incredibly helpful. They absolutly did everything that they could to help me. When I called this morning, I got a different dispatcher and he was very familiar with the case. How often does that happen in the big city? These guys are going to get a big pat on the back from me!

Troutly, I'm going to send you all the info that I have. It's after the fact right now, but I would like to create a file for the next time. There will be a next time, and I want to be prepared for it.

That said, we thought of the cell phone. That would be just too easy. This past week he forgot that he had a key for his gas cap. I had to break it off so we could fill the tank. Turned out he had it in his pocket. There is no way a cell phone will work for him. He's old school and couldn't figure out how to use it, would forget it, would foget that he has it, or wouldn't turn it on, etc. It needs to be fool proof. I think that the gps locator is an excellent idea. I'm going to look into the fees for one. Thanks for the idea.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Great news. Glad everything turned out ok.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Well, the gps locator for a vehicle is still in the prototype stage. I know that the big rigs have been using them for a while. Does anybody have links for these sytems?

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Your very welcomed Tim. We have a system from qualcomm. Not sure if they have a non-comercial system. The cost for ours was apprx $4000. for each unit. Give qualcomm a call 800-541-7490.
Glad everything worked out.
Stan

Re: MIA: my dad
 

There are supposed to be some GPS vehicle locators for about $600 avalable. A DEA buddy was telling me about them recently. Look for them through things like theft prevention devices and I know I've seen them advertised for things such as hiding in race car trailers in case of theft. I'll dig around and see what I can come up with. A GPS trackable cell would be better if you could get him to carry it 'cause since theoretically it would be with Him instead of whererver his car ends up if they got seperated. I Think most cell phomes are trackable now days dependant on what the cops have to track it with.
So Glad to hear the good news. Get those fliers made up in your computer and look up contact info for authorities between your place and his and be ready in five minutes next time.
OK. I'll shutup.
Don

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Great to hear he's back and safe...... :D

How about putting a Lojak in his truck ???

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Good to hear he's ok. My dad isn't that bad yet, but he is becoming more forgetful. He never leaves town unless mom is with him anyway, and she's still as sharp as she ever was. They are driving to my place next week for TG, I'm sure mom will do the navigating.

A side note, last week I got a call from the alarm co for my parent's house. I couldn't raise them on the phone or cell phone. Now that I live 150 miles away, I did get in touch with my brother who lives a few blocks from them. Mom had accidently tripped the alarm, so no big deal, but it still puts my heart in my throat when I get a call like that. I talked to my mom yesterday and asked her why she didn't have her cell with her. She said she had it, but didn't turn it on. :rolleyes:

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Lojack is an idea, around $600-$800, but you'd have to make a stolen vehicle report to activate the system. Might give him a heart attack when he gets pulled over in a felony traffic stop.

Not to mention, Lojack isn't fool proof. They have to be activated first of all, then they have to be in an area where the LEO's have the trackers. They also have to be pretty much right on top of them to work, that is, they don't work in mountain areas or out in the middle of nowhere. Just some info that the sales people won't tell you.

Glad to hear about the happy ending in this instance. :D

Re: MIA: my dad
 

I think "Teletrak" has nationwide coverage. They are used primarily for commercial truck tracking. But... I know they have an auto version that on occasion you can call them and they will tell you the exact location of your automobile. I suggest getting a system like that... It lies dormant on the vehicle. But when you need to know where the car is.. you call... unfortunately.. unlike Lojak.. it comes with a monthly bill instead of a "one time" fee like Lojak. But... you get to call them several times a month to find your car. It was primarily designed to track teenagers and cheating spouses...... :evilb: That is only half the problem... it still doesn't tell your Dad to call home or how to get home.. Maybe a new car with "on star" would be best for him. That has a gps tracker built in.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

check about On Star, I would think an OnStar equipped vehicle might help. If he got lost you could call onstar and the operator could get him using GPS and the Satellite phone feature. Just a thought, It can be expensive but in this case I think it might be worth the trouble and expense for his safety and your peace of mind.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Tim, Also glad to hear he made it back safely. I know from personal experience how scary the lack of mental capacity can be. My dad also suffered with it before he passed. Anyway, maybe something as simple as a beeper could be used. I know it wouldn't locate him but mayber he could find a phone and call you after you paged him.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

glad to hear he is well. how old is he and maybe time to take the keys??

Re: MIA: my dad
 

there are GPS watches that are available for tracking your kids...they will probably work on old people too :D

http://www.wherifywireless.com/prod_watches.htm

http://www.gpschildlocatorwatch.com/

this one is an article of different tracker type devices
http://www.gps-practice-and-fun.com/...-tracking.html

good luck and we are all glad to know he is back home safe

Ernie

Re: MIA: my dad
 

The Nextel phones that are GPS enabled can be tracked using software. The only problem is that it needs to be turned ON.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

They are talking up the GPS watches a lot in the local media here lately. I would look into them.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

glad he's OK...

Re: MIA: my dad
 

LOJack for his truck.

Re: MIA: my dad
 

Hey Tim, I'd give it a lot of thought. if he is a concern every time he gets behind the wheel - he probably shouldn't be. his lack of awareness of where he heading is also a problem for vehicle operation. You cannot rely on lawmakers to take the necessary steps to pull a senior citizen's license - they are scared sh*t of the NAARP, they ALL vote and politicians know it. My dad is only 66 and his driving days are numbered, has been driving with 2 feet for few years now, the accelerator isn't lifted, he just brakes harder!