Search crews spent several hours Wednesday looking for a missing 90-year-old man in Washington County .
Family members said George Pochiba walked away from his home in Scenery Hill of off Route 40 around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
State police said Pochiba was spotted Tuesday night around 8 p.m. near a farm. The person who saw him said he or she wasn’t aware that Pochiba was missing and didn’t suspect anything wrong.
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Crews were in the area searching for Pochiba, who family members said suffers from dementia, throughout the night. Officials had to call of the search around 4:30 a.m. because it was too dark. The search resumed at 9 a.m., but was then called off around 4:30 p.m. because of the threat of severe weather in the area.
“I don’t think he could have wandered too far, but if anyone picked him up please notify someone as soon as possible,” Pochiba’s niece Carol Logar said. “Please, anybody, call just as soon as you get information. Thank you.”
Pochiba was last seen wearing blue pants and a blue flannel shirt. Investigators said he walks with a cane.
Family members said moments before Pochiba went missing, he told family members he wanted to “go feed the animals.”
“Luckily, even last night, it didn’t get too cold. It was humid out. Even today, not really any rain or anything yet. We hope it’s just a matter of he just got lost and can’t find his way back,” said Trooper Stephanie Plume.
Authorities said the search is centered around about a 6-mile radius.
“Everybody knows he has major dementia. He doesn’t wander far. He goes to his garden, just sits on his porch. He’s never done this before, but with Alzheimer’s patients it’s very hard to keep the doors locked and keep an eye on him 24/7,” said one family member.
Pochiba’s family members were thankful Wednesday for all the help they’ve been receiving.
“We’re just hoping and praying for the best. They’ve got every possible resource out here,” Logar said.
