Aletha Gee Walton, 69, has been missing in Virginia for eight days. Her loved ones are especially concerned about her health as she suffers from early stage dementia.
Police began searching for Walton on May 17, 2022, after her family could not find her anywhere. Her neighbors had last seen her at her house two days earlier, but no one knew where she had gone. The worries of family and friends worsened as the day passed without a trace. However, that did not stop the officers from searching with the help of their loyal K9.
The newest officer to join the search
One of the teams looking for Walton was the Virginia Department of Wildlife Conservation. Officers Chaffin and K9 Molly recently returned from graduating from DNR K9 School. As soon as they got home to Virginia, they joined the search for the missing woman.
“We all just broke down and cried. We don’t know what to think. We think someone kidnapped her or whatever. We don’t know what happened,” said Sandra Knight, Walton’s sister.
During the search, Virginia experienced extreme heat and storms, so Walton had to deal with it on his own. After several days of searching, Molly helped her teammates locate Walton, who was about 0.5 miles from her home in a wooded area. She’s sitting on a tree stump alone, singing “Amazing Grace.”
Walton returned home safely
Paramedics evaluated Walton after she was found, and she was then sent to Centra Southside Community Hospital for further evaluation. She was exhausted and dehydrated, as expected. Authorities have not released details about her health or how she ended up in the woods, but she appears to be fine.
“I’m glad it’s a happy ending,” said Walton’s niece, Deidra Knight. “At first, I didn’t know what to think, I thought the worst. But when they say she’s okay, I’m very grateful, very grateful.”
It’s been a tough week for the Walton family, but all agree that Walton’s return is a miracle. They could finally relax and take a deep breath knowing she was safe.
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Thanks to K9 Molly and all the incredible members of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Without their hard work and dedication, Walton could still go missing. Molly did an exceptionally great job giving a dog new to her role. Hopefully she gets more belly rubs as a bonus!
