August 8, 2023

MDIFW NEWS: Warden K9 Storm and Game Warden Chad Robertson Locate missing 85-Year-Old Male

For Immediate Release August 8, 2023

Warden K9 Storm and Game Warden Chad Robertson Locate missing 85-Year-Old Male

PARKMAN, Maine - Game Warden Chad Robertson and Warden K9 Storm rescued a missing 85-year-old man, locating him before last night's heavy rains began.

At approximately 6:40 p.m. last night, the Maine Warden Service received a call that 85-year-old Gene Wilbur of Parkman was missing from his home. Due to the fading daylight and a forecast of heavy rain, 8 game wardens were dispatched to the scene, including a game warden pilot, as well as certified K9 searchers from Maine Search and Rescue Dogs, and a Piscataquis Sherriffs deputy.

Wilbur, who battles dementia, was last seen at 8:30 a.m. when a neighboring family member had visited him at his residence on Route 150 in Parkman. A follow up visit later that afternoon found that Wilbur was missing. Family began searching for him around the residence, but when they were unsuccessful, they called 911.

Upon arriving on the scene, game wardens began searching in and around the residence, down the roads and in a wooded area immediately across the road. Game Warden Robertson deployed K9 Storm behind the residence on a trail that led to a bog. After only 20 minutes, K9 Storm was able to locate Wilbur over a quarter of a mile from the residence in the woods along the edge of the bog.

Wilbur was found sitting on the ground unable to stand, and his feet and legs were wet from going into the bog. Once found, several other wardens who had been searching came to Wilburs location, and they were able to assist him walking to an old, overgrown woods road, where Wilbur was placed in a Warden Service Patrol Truck and transported to a waiting ambulance. Wilbur was hypothermic and dehydrated, and was transported to Northern Light Hospital in Dover Foxcroft where he was evaluated and released later last night.