In a heartwarming turn of events, a 91-year-old man from Wyoming, who had been missing for three days, was unexpectedly spotted on a TV news segment hundreds of miles from home.
Michael Black, a resident of Star Valley in western Wyoming, vanished, leaving his wife, Avril Black, deeply concerned. Having been diagnosed with dementia, Michael’s disappearance was distressing. He embarked on an unplanned journey, hitchhiking over 200 miles to Salt Lake City, Utah.
His unexpected route took him through southern Idaho and into northern Utah, where tips about his whereabouts eventually dwindled. Yet, his adventure didn’t go unnoticed. Michael arrived at the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, where a Thanksgiving event was being recorded for a segment by KSL News.
During the broadcast, Avril, tuning in from their home in Wyoming, was stunned to see her husband, identifiable by his white hair and black coat, among those being served meals. ‘I thought, ‘Wait a minute, I’m sure I saw Michael.’ So I paused the TV, set it back, and yeah, sure enough, there he was,’ Avril recounted to KSL News.
Prior to his TV appearance, local police had entered Michael’s information into a missing persons database. Despite mapping his journey with the help of various tips, locating him proved challenging until this surprising revelation.
It was at the shelter that Michael met Jay Rouse, the chapel lead. ‘I realized this sweet, old man was in need of some help,’ Rouse noted. His interaction with Michael was part of what led to the feature on the news.
By the time Avril spotted Michael on the news on November 27, she was overwhelmed with relief. She expressed her astonishment, stating, ‘It was so unreal. I was so relieved. I actually slept that night.’ After confirming Michael’s identity, the authorities contacted Avril, and she immediately set out to bring him home.
This unusual situation highlighted the power of community and media in reuniting loved ones. With Michael safely back in Afton, Avril shared her gratitude, marveling at the series of events that led to his return. ‘I’m speechless. It just blows me away that it happened,’ she remarked, believing a guardian angel must have been watching over him.
Source: Apnews
