LINCOLN COUNTY, W.Va. — A South Charleston man with dementia who had been missing since Wednesday was found safe Friday night.
Steve Sydnor, 69, was discovered in Lincoln County at about 7 p.m. According to Kanawha County Emergency Management, Sydnor walked out of the woods at Falls Creek Road and identified himself.
He was transported to Thomas Memorial Hospital and appeared to be in good condition.
Sydnor left his home on Ivywood Drive in the Armor View development in South Charleston around 4 p.m. on Wednesday and didn’t return, starting a search for him.
A Silver Alert was issued Friday morning, commencing a search in which members of the First Church of the Nazarene, Sydnor’s church, joined South Charleston police and Sydnor’s family.
Kanawha County sheriff’s bloodhounds tracked Sydnor’s scent in the Jefferson area and focused their efforts there and in St. Albans.
The South Charleston Fire, South Charleston Police, St. Albans Fire and Kanawha County Sheriff’s Depts. all assisted in the search.
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SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The search for a South Charleston man resumed Friday with the help of a local church.
The First Church of the Nazarene in South Charleston has been assisting police to locate Steven Sydnor, 69, who was reported missing Wednesday afternoon. Family members said he has dementia.
“He’s important to a large number of people. He’s a caring person. He’s a grandfather to his many grand kids and we just need him back,” said Kent Estep, pastor of the First Church of the Nazarene.
Sydnor and his wife Jackie have been members of the church for years, according to Estep. As many as 30 people, along with Sydnor’s family and friends have been looking for him since he disappeared.
Police said he was last seen in the 1300 Block of Smith Creek Road near Woody’s Garage. It is believed he walked back north bound towards South Charleston.
“It’s a highly traveled road,” Estep said of Smith Creek Road. “There’s no sidewalk. There’s really no place to even step off that road. It’s very dangerous, so that’s concerning for all of us that that’s the last place he was seen.”
Sydnor typically went on walks, sometimes, two or three times a day, Estep said.
“He’s remained a very active person, but he had never not returned,” he said. “He seems to be confused at this point because it wasn’t typical at all.”
Estep said it’s also concerning that Sydnor has dementia.
“We’re always concerned that someone could take advantage of him because of his mental state,” he said.
The church group has been driving down roads in Kanawha County, for five or six hours at a time, Estep said. They’ve traveled around the Smith Creek area, out to Corridor G, St. Albans and all throughout South Charleston.
“We’re just trying to locate where he might be,” he said. “It’s just a matter of getting as many eyes on the road as often as we can keep them there.”
Sydnor was described as 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 185 pounds. He was last seen wearing blue shorts, tan shirt, tennis shoes, and a gold watch, but may have taken his shirt off at some point.
“At this point, we’re remaining very hopeful that there’s going to be a good outcome for he and his family,” Estep said. “That’s what we’re praying for.”
Anyone with information on Sydnor’s whereabouts is urged to call the South Charleston Police Department at 304-744-6903 or to dial 911.