Alzheimer’s Victim Missing; Police Ask the Public for Help

An elderly Huntington Beach woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease was still missing late Thursday night after disappearing almost a week ago, apparently while traveling in Carlsbad with her husband, who police said appeared confused and disoriented.

Carlsbad Police Lt. Jim Hawks said that Edward Hirth, 83, was found at a Carlsbad Motel on Tuesday but that he could not remember where he left his 79-year-old wife, Evelyn, or their car. The motel manager said that Hirth had been there three days but that he had not seen a woman with him.

Authorities are looking for the couple’s tan 1985 Chevrolet Caprice, with California license plate number 1MTE713.

“We checked all the local motels in the surrounding area around the motel he was staying at and were unable to locate Evelyn or the car,” Hawks said. “I think with the exception of assisting Huntington Beach (police) we’ve exhausted our leads locally. Maybe she might come to someone’s attention and they will call us.”

Edward Hirth was returned home safely by a relative, but his wife, described as short and heavyset, was still missing Thursday, police said.

Concern was first expressed Saturday when a relative went to the Hirths’ Huntington Beach home looking for them and found no one at home, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Charles Poe said.