PEORIA, Ill. -- It's been more than 24 hours since family members first reported the disappearance of an elderly Peoria man in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease.
Since then, authorities have been searching around the clock, the freezing temperatures making their efforts all the more urgent.
Around 2 p.m. yesterday, 73-year-old John Garrett laid down for a nap, so his wife and caretaker, Bev, did the same.
She woke up 15 minutes later, only to find John was gone.
Monday evening, the search stretches from the woods-filled Sommer Park-- near the couple's north Peoria home-- all the way to McLean county.
John's son Scott Garrett said there have been a few reported sightings, giving the family hope his father is alive.
"You know, my dad has Alzheimer's, but my mom keeps him fairly fit," said Garrett. "She makes him walk all the time. So you wouldn't think about it, but he's fast. It's one of those things, they want to go home to their childhood home, and that's what he thinks about."
Authorities are searching the area of that childhood home in Peoria.
Scott Garrett added authorities planned to call off the foot search Monday night at dusk and regroup Tuesday.
In the meantime, if you see John Garrett you are asked to call Peoria County authorities by dialing 911.
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