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Body of missing 76-year-old man with dementia found in North Austin

Paull Patterson was reported missing on Nov. 7 after he left a medical facility, Colonial Gardens.

AUSTIN, Texas — On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the Austin Police Department (APD) said investigators believe a body discovered in North Austin is Paull Patterson, a 76-year-old man reported missing earlier this month. On Thursday, family told KVUE that his identity has been confirmed.

He was first reported missing around 3:10 a.m. on Nov. 7 after he was last seen at 4 p.m. on Nov. 6 leaving a medical facility, Colonial Gardens, near the intersection of Amherst Drive and Parmer Lane.

"Somehow, he got out of the facility. That happened at 4 on Sunday. I didn't get a phone call until 1:30 a.m. on Monday. So that was a long period of time. I believe the cops were alerted at 11 p.m.," Laurel Patterson, Paull Patterson's daughter, told KVUE earlier this month.

She said her father wasn't reported missing by the facility for about seven hours. She said her father may have believed he was still in New Mexico, where he used to live.

"He's confused. I'm sure he thinks he's in New Mexico and that he's, like, right down the street from where he lives. So I'm nervous that he's going to get taken advantage of," Laurel Patterson said.

Paull Patterson was in need of daily medication and suffered from a cognitive illness, the APD said. 

APD said Paull Patterson followed a staff member out the door of the facility on Nov. 6. When patrol units could not locate him, a Silver Alert was issued the morning of Nov. 7. Detectives searched the nearby greenbelt, showing his photo to area residents.

Detectives expanded their search on Nov. 10 to a large-scale operation with Travis County Search and Rescue, involving multiple ground searchers and K9s. From Nov. 11-14, detectives followed up on sightings in Round Rock, South Austin and area hospitals with no luck. On Nov. 15, detectives received information that Paull Patterson was on his way to New Mexico and expanded their search.

On Nov. 16, a citizen who had been searching the area near the care facility called 911 after discovering a body. Because the body was found in an area that was already searched, police believe Paull Patterson was likely still mobile during previous searches.

KVUE has reached out to Colonial Gardens. We have not yet heard back.

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