Lashley found safe after nightlong search

The Demopolis Police Department closed the missing person alert on Joe E. Lashley just before noon Tuesday after he was located. The DPD reports Lashley was found to have been suffering from dehydration in addition to having numerous scratches. Lashley is said to be in good condition following having been missing overnight.

The DPD responded to a missing person call around 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 that indicated Lashley was last heard from approximately 5 p.m. Lashley son reported to DPD that Lashley, 85, indicated his truck was stuck in a rut and that he was going to walk home. Lashely was unable to give his exact location at the time but believed he was on his property.

Officers walked Lashley’s property Monday evening but did not find him or his vehicle. Authorities issued an alert statewide and on social media to be on the lookout for Lashely and his vehicle.

Officers later received a call from Rusty Godwin, a property owner, who stated he had seen a post about Lashley on Facebook and had seen Lashley and his vehicle off County Road 54 near Lakeview Acres in Gallion.

After a search of the property, officers located Lashley’s vehicle but were unable to find him. Tuscaloosa Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit was called in to search the area from the air, but was unsuccessful.

At 9:52 a.m. Tuesday, Lashley was located approximately a half mile from where his vehicle had been found. He was transported to Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital.

“We want to give thanks to God for allowing us to be able to bring him back home to his family,” Demopolis Police Department Chief Tommie Reese said. “We also want to thank the members of the DPD, Mr. Rusty Godwin, the Marengo County Rescue Squad, the South Marengo County Rescue Squad and the numerous volunteers from West Rock Paper Mill Company in Demopolis.”