SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The search is on for an at-risk man missing from his care facility in San Luis Obispo.
Police say he suffers from a mental illness and left his medication behind.
52 year-old Raymond John Hockaday left his home on Halloween for his daily morning walk but never came back.
http://liarcatchers.com/missing_persons_investigations.html
Police say this is no the first time Hockaday up and left without warning.
“Several years ago, I believe he is from San Diego, and when he made his way to San Luis Obispo, I don’t think he told anybody where he was going or what he was doing,” says Detective Trevor Shalhoob of the San Luis Obispo Police.
Hockaday left his home on the 1500 block of Osos Street which is a voluntary, confidential facility for mentally ill patients.
Facility staff wouldn’t go on camera but say they think Hockaday left town.
They say Hockaday called them a few hours ago saying he was ok but was never coming back.
Community Counseling Services of San Luis Obispo Executive Director James Statler says many things can trigger a person with mental illness to leave.
“Triggers could be some type of trauma, a loss of a critical relationship,” says Statler.
“If you don’t have medication management some of your symptoms are going to increase so things like possible delusions or fears can be heightened and that can definitely put somebody in a place of despair and isolation.”
But Statler warns not all mentally ill people who go off their medication are dangerous.
“I don’t think the community should be overly worried but I think it’s letting this gentlemen know that there is care and people want him to return to his home.”
Police say the biggest concern is that Hockaday is known to become catatonic without his medication and they want to find his so he can get proper care.
Police say this will remain a missing person’s case until they see Hockaday in person and make sure he is ok.
