By MIKE JAMES - The Independent
LOUISA — Emergency workers have found the body of a woman with Alzheimer’s disease who wandered off from her caregiver during a Thanksgiving visit.
Searchers found the body of 79-year-old Florence Tkach in the Big Sandy River shortly before noon Saturday, said Lawrence County emergency management director Harold Slone.
“We focused on the river for the last few days because of the indications of the dogs,” Slone said.
Emergency officials had brought in specially trained dogs to aid in the search.
Tkach, who lived in Aberdeen, Ohio, went missing from a home on McClure Branch Road Wednesday evening. She was thinly clad, being last seen wearing a T-shirt, jeans and one shoe.
She had come to Louisa with her caregiver to visit the caregiver’s family for Thanksgiving.
Searchers from Boyd, Rowan, Elliott and Floyd counties turned out to help in the search, Slone said.
Officials issued alerts to notify area residents and first responders that she was missing.
