STILL MISSING: Update from Jim Price’s family

Eight days after 86-year-old Jim Price was last seen, his family and friends continue searching, and today they got some help, Sharon Price tells WSB via email:

Today a detective from SPD and one from WA State Patrol met at our house, searched, then an “air scent” dog came with a handler and found nothing. After the impending storm, probably Thursday morning, they’ll take a helicopter to search Seattle and Vashon. They say spreading the word with fliers and holding organized and informal searches along with using various communications are the right thing to do.

Jim Price left his Pigeon Point home the evening of Monday, September 18th, on foot, possibly headed for The Junction, and hasn’t been seen since.

Flivver September 26, 2023 (4:37 pm)

Did he have any money with him?? Has the ferry system been canvased in case he boarded and went to Kitsap County? Have the bus companies and Amtrak been notified in case the bought a ticket and went out of state? Being gone this long means the unlikely scenarios should be considered.

Derrick September 26, 2023 (4:47 pm)

I know it was discussed previously – but bringing the dog in on day 8 (after a storm) instead of right away seems like a huge missed opportunity.

Mel September 27, 2023 (6:45 am)

Unfortunately there aren’t resources to bring in a dog for every missing person. This is heartbreaking but it does happen often. They couldn’t do it day of for everyone
- Derrick September 27, 2023 (6:08 pm)
  
  This response triggers follow up questions – like if the dogs exist, what is the triage process? What were they doing the last 8 days that was more important and why was that not on the news?It seems to me that 80 year old vulnerable people don’t go missing so frequently that we can’t be a bit more aggressive with search resources faster.

DoBetter September 26, 2023 (5:05 pm)

Great job SPD and WASP for waiting until after this downpour to get a dog out to search for Jim. If the worst happens, it’s on them and their slow response. Embarrassing.

Tired WS Mom September 28, 2023 (10:54 am)

Yes, while it is incredibly sad it took 8 days, like someone stated above, unfortunately there’s a huge need to these scent tracing dogs. They’re not always readily available and so many people go missing. I really hope he turns up soon, I can’t imagine how hard this is on his family :( I traveled Saturday on the ferry from Fauntleroy to Vashon, searching for him and no luck. So many flyers are out

waikikigirl September 26, 2023 (5:11 pm)

This is so sad that he hasn’t been found yet. My Father lived with us for the final 3 yrs of his life and there were times I was afraid to leave him alone, not that he had dementia but just being the age he was at that time. 90 to 93yrs old.Is Jim living alone or is he still married, caretaker…? There’s a time in your parents life when they become the child and the child(ren) become the parent, its a difficult time but it has to be done for safety reasons like this.I hope the family finds him soon, my thoughts are with you.

M September 26, 2023 (6:49 pm)

I pray he is found safe.

Heidi September 26, 2023 (7:15 pm)

LINK TO SEARCH MAP updated 9/26

Sue September 27, 2023 (8:29 pm)

Is there a likely path he used to walk? Is that the yellow lines?
April September 27, 2023 (8:44 pm)

Here is a Link to a document with search information and FAQs.Thank you to everyone who is looking for Jim, we appreciate it so much.

Scanner September 26, 2023 (7:16 pm)

At about 17:30 I heard a call for someone reporting possibly seeing him at 39th & Morgan. The caller lost sight of subject, officers requested caller attempt to regain eyes on subject. Was not able to keep ears on the situation, but figured I would mention what little I did hear.

Odd son September 26, 2023 (8:14 pm)

I heard that too and a call earlier in the day from someone else who thinks they saw him.
- Scanner September 26, 2023 (8:40 pm)
  
  The only problem with so many people wanting to find the same subject, we’re always going to end up with a bunch of false sightings. I’m glad people are paying attention though.
Karen B September 26, 2023 (9:51 pm)

Wondering whether it would make sense to bring a SAR dog to where there has been a recent sighting. In the same way that dogs are taught to recognize drugs or contraband, couldn’t a SAR dog be taught to search for a specific missing person such as Jim? I wouldn’t expect that a dog could follow a scent from where he left his home after all this time…but why not bring them to locations of potential sightings?
- Scanner September 27, 2023 (6:39 pm)
  
  Anything is better than nothing, for sure. That would definitely be an avenue worth exploring, but it would most likely have to be explored by the civilian sector unfortunately.

Meryl September 26, 2023 (7:18 pm)

I am so sorry he is still missing. Praying he is found safe. Has anyone checked homeless shelters downtown?

AN September 26, 2023 (7:33 pm)

If you are planning a search group for tomorrow I would love to come help.

Blbl September 27, 2023 (10:53 am)

With the updated map linked above, I don’t think we need to wait for an organized search. Maybe just grab an open quadrant and search that area as well as one can.

Oerthehillz September 26, 2023 (8:07 pm)

New article found on My Northwest. This contains more information than what I’ve read before.https://mynorthwest.com/3932794/missing-west-seattle-man-with-dementia-missing/

Lola September 27, 2023 (7:35 am)

That is the first time I am reading that he said he was going to pick plums at a neighbors. Every other article said he was going to go to the Senior Center. I sure hope they can find him. From the article it does not even sound like he walked that way to the neighbors as he was not seen on anybody’s ring cameras that goes to that neighbor.
- ARPigeonPoint September 27, 2023 (3:17 pm)
  
  It’s the first time I had heard that, too, and the plum tree is half in my yard and half in my next door neighbor’s yard. :(

Why September 26, 2023 (8:25 pm)

so they wait to deploy dog after a storm and the helicopter more than 8 days after? didn’t they get a helicopter in the air immediately for a person in mental crisis? seems like SPD and the state patrol are more interested in criminals than helping the vulnerable…

Mel September 27, 2023 (6:55 am)

Do you know how often this happens? There would be a helicopter circling 24/7 if we went after every missing person right away
- Blbl September 27, 2023 (10:57 am)
  
  No, this is not that common. And they always seem to find the resources when it is crime-related.

Amy Thomson September 26, 2023 (8:49 pm)

Gotta say that I’m appalled that it took so long to get scent dogs working on this. All this rain has pretty much killed any scent trail.

Zotto September 26, 2023 (9:05 pm)

Is he the Jim that used to work/volunteer at the West Seattle Senior Center?

oerthehillz September 27, 2023 (6:16 am)

Yes, he and his wife have been volunteers for years and still were after the pandemic.

Brandon September 26, 2023 (9:23 pm)

Reposting from a previous thread in hopes these questions get answered to help us help the family. Since he has dementia, a few questions. Is his dementia so progressed he wouldn’t know the area or where he lives? Would he flee people trying to help him? Is he a Seattle native? Have relatives in another city / state he may have opted to go visit? A former home he lived at in the city he may have visited? What were his daily activities besides walking? Were the things he wanted to do, but never did? It could help narrow down the search because it is a large area. “Jim was last seen leaving his home on foot last Monday night, possibly headed for The Junction.” is little information to go on after a full week… But now the search is potentially being expanded to Vashon? Huh?There has to be more details to go on if cops are looking on the other side of the water too.

oerthehillz September 27, 2023 (6:17 am)

There’s a bit more information on My Northwest. The reason they mention Vashon is because they use to live over there.

KM September 26, 2023 (9:47 pm)

Hi – I’m the one who called 911 twice about this afternoon’s sighting at 39th and Morgan, after I approached him and asked if he was lost. He said he was not lost but that his daughter was. I told him he resembled a gentleman that had been missing. I approached him because I saw him 20 mins earlier outside of thriftway with a woman I assumed to be his 40-something daughter who was guiding him from straying through the crosswalk there. Things seemed “off”. When I saw him the second time 20 minutes later at 39th and Morgan he was alone and calling out a name. That’s when I called 911 the first time and then got in my car to track his location (per 911). By then he was at 34th and Morgan with the same woman. I called 911 to report his new location and begged them to go check it out. I reviewed the comments from a previous thread and someone else reported a similar man at 35th and Morgan, same time of day, several days ago. This man had a full white beard and a mobile phone, but otherwise matched the description of Jim. Different clothing.

Lola September 27, 2023 (7:43 am)

KM, I don’t think he would have a full white beard in a weeks time. Unless he already had the start of one and they have not said anything. It is so weird for them not to find anything on him after a week, and even search parties looking for him that they have found nothing at all. Thanks to everyone who has been looking for him and helping with the searches. I know I am always looking for him as well when I am out and about.
K. Lusignan September 27, 2023 (8:00 am)

If you are positive this was him, were comparing to the poster, etc might be scent trail here? If he is in company with someone else that could be consistent with early stage dementia where someone who is confused finds the explanations of another person plausible. The person who is with him might be vulnerable themselves and might indeed be trying to help him, and if that is him and he is still alive and in decent shape, this would be pretty good news.

JM September 27, 2023 (12:29 am)

In the evening on the Sep 27, I saw a person sitting against a tree with their bald head retracted into a sweater (similar to pic) on the south side of the Westcrest park trails. I didn’t know about a missing person until I saw the poster on Sep 25. I could have been a good samaritan, but I did nothing to help. I didn’t see a jacket.I’ve been spooked the last two days. I have not been back since. If whoever I saw is still there, it is unlikely that they are alive. I made no police report.

April October 2, 2023 (9:06 pm)

Thank you JM – we are asking folks to take a look in that area even though a few days have passed and you didn’t see the person again when you returned.It’s an area we haven’t checked yet and if anyone is out searching tomorrow, we ask that you would check out the J-10 quadrant of the map as well as walk Westcrest Park.Thank you.

JM September 27, 2023 (1:13 am)

In my last post I might have said the wrong date, I might have seen him at Westcrest park trails on Saturday, Sep 23. I didn’t proofread.

And then what? September 28, 2023 (4:18 pm)

Have you been back? Called the police? Contacted the family?
- JM October 2, 2023 (7:49 am)
  
  I went back. No one is there. They moved on.

Bee September 27, 2023 (9:59 am)

Agree, it is utterly appalling they wait until After the down pour of a storm to pull out a dog search. There are constantly police planes and police and army helicopters flying over ALL the time. How hard could it have been to coordinate a search with jblm, the coast guard, and police planes right away. This is so sad and embarrassing. Hope he is found safe soon!

Brandon September 27, 2023 (3:59 pm)

Um. Not to state the obvious but, it isn’t cheap to expend all those resources every time someone goes missing. So of course, that’s not going to happen.
- Bill September 27, 2023 (4:20 pm)
  
  KCSheriff flies over North Delridge in the early evenings fairly frequently. See also “Search & Rescue: locating lost/missing people: urban and wilderness”https://kingcounty.gov/en/legacy/depts/sheriff/about-us/enforcement/specialized/helicopterThe response has been disappointing as it would be considered for you or your family member as well.
  - Bill September 28, 2023 (9:49 am)
    
    They’re circling right above Pigeon Point right now. I’m holding back tears and thinking of Jim and his family.

Heidi September 28, 2023 (7:46 pm)

Hi everyone. We’ll continue to update the docs in the link below as things progress. So far, no solid leads/info. In the folder, you can find a doc with some updated FAQs and search instructions, a missing person flyer, and a West Seattle search map with quadrants. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KWz0EAUYD_DHy9BQOwow8x4TDeJz60cZ?usp=drive_linkThanks for your care and support!

Sorry, comment time is over.