FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Just before 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a missing 83-year-old man with a heart condition in the Lake Monticello area. The man’s daughter reported that she had last seen her father around 9 p.m. the previous evening.
When deputies arrived at the residence, they began a preliminary search of the area. Shift Lieutenant McLemore found several concerning signs: the front door was open, the man’s hat was in the yard, and a piece of clothing was discovered at the edge of the woods. A perimeter was quickly set up, and investigators, along with the Sheriff’s K-9 units, were called to assist in the search.
With temperatures dropping to the mid-20s overnight and only reaching around 40 degrees this morning, time was of the essence. The K-9 team, led by Sgt. Alan Cox, began a detailed search of the area. Investigators also worked with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to track the missing man’s cellphone. Additional K-9 units and drones were dispatched from the Chester County Sheriff’s Office to assist.
After about an hour of searching, a breakthrough came when one of the K-9 officers spotted a figure at the bottom of a 20-foot ravine. The officer descended into the ravine and confirmed it was the missing man, who was alive but weak. Lt. McLemore then carried the man out of the woods for much needed medical care. EMS was notified, and the man was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Despite the cold temperatures and the man’s heart condition, he is expected to make a full recovery.
