Missing elderly women with dementia spark urgent searches in US and Australia

Authorities and families are conducting urgent searches for two elderly women with dementia who have gone missing in separate countries.

In New Jersey, 71-year-old Belinda Prentice has been missing since October 7. She was last seen at a ShopRite in Franklin Township. Her family reported that she had been showing early signs of dementia and had previously been the subject of Silver Alerts. Search efforts involving the Franklin Township police, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Jersey Department of Corrections have utilized bloodhounds, canine units, and thermal-imaging drones to locate her.

In Victoria, Australia, 73-year-old Janet Knight disappeared on a Sunday morning after leaving her home in Keilor East. She was last seen walking toward Keilor Road and left without her phone, wallet, or Fitbit, which her family noted is uncharacteristic. Her daughter stated that Knight suffers from a rare and aggressive form of dementia that affects her ability to communicate. Victoria Police have expressed concerns regarding the cold, wet weather and local flooding during the search.