Man with dementia disappears after wandering off from family while vacationing in Mexico

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) - A 66-year-old South Carolina man who suffers from dementia has been missing for several days while vacationing in Mexico, leaving the family pleading for answers.

Edmond Bradley Solomon III celebrated his birthday at the beginning of the seven-day cruise to Mexico, WCSC reported.

According to Solomon’s family, he has frontotemporal dementia, which is an earlier onset dementia that causes personal, behavioral and emotional changes in one’s personality.

“My sister knew it would probably be the last vacation that she was able to take with Brad based on his deterioration over the last couple of months,” Ashley Hyer, Solomon’s sister-in-law told WCSC.

The group was shopping along the terminal area docked in Cozumel when he wandered off.

Solomon hasn’t been seen since April 3, according to a GoFundMe page.

However, there have only been a few sightings of Solomon, one being at a grocery store. The owner of the store said he attempted to approach Solomon, but he ran away.

Hyer said Solomon did have a tracker, but only one that works with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which stopped pinging about two hours into the search.

“That could’ve made all the difference in the world if we had just known,” she said.

FBI Columbia spokesman Kevin Wheeler says they are aware of the missing person report and have been in contact with Mexican authorities, but are unable to comment further.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department released the following statement on Tuesday:

“The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad.

We are aware of reports of a missing U.S. citizen in Merida, Mexico.

When a U.S. citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we share information with families however we can.

We are monitoring the situation and seeking additional information, and we stand ready to provide consular assistance. We have no further comment at this time.”

So far, Royal Caribbean has also not responded for comment.

Copyright 2024 WCSC via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.