Missing 75-Year-Old Found By K-9 Team In Sub-Freezing Temperatures

PEEKSKILL, NY — A 75-year-old man, reported missing from his Peekskill home, was found and rescued early Saturday morning in sub-freezing temperatures thanks to a K-9 officer team.

The City of Peekskill Police Department said, around 1:45 a.m. Saturday, a 911 call was received about an older man missing from his Society Hill II complex home.

The man’s son said his father had Parkinson’s Disease, possibly was in the early stages of dementia and had potentially wandered away from his home.

His father was last seen several hours earlier wearing slippers, jeans and a sweatshirt — clothing that was inadequate for the 5-degree outdoor temperature.

Police said all available Peekskill officers were sent to the location the man was last seen and began canvassing surrounding areas.

A request for assistance was made from the New York State Police and Westchester County Department of Public Safety, with both agencies providing multiple assets, including K-9s and aviation units.

After almost 45 minutes of searching by officers and the K-9 units, Peekskill Police Officer Jon Saintiche and his K-9 partner Bones began a new search near a dead-end portion of Winchester Avenue.

Saintiche said, about a minute into the search, Bones began to pick up his pace and ran toward a wooded area, indicating he may have found the scent he was tracking.

Saintiche and Bones ran about 50 yards into the woods and found the missing man who had fallen to the ground and was lying on some leaves.

Police said he was cold to the touch and unable to move but was alive and conscious.

After the man’s condition was confirmed, officers ran into the woods to carry him out. He was placed inside a nearby patrol car and provided blankets, hats and heat.

The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

A family member told police Monday the man will make a full recovery.

According to a spokesman for the Peekskill police, the department revived its K-9 program in 2017 with K-9 Charlie and handler Officer Anthony Nappi. In 2020, the unit grew with the addition of K-9 Bones and Saintiche.

Certified K-9 handlers must undergo seven months of training at an academy, where the handlers and their K-9 partners are trained primarily in explosives detection with the ability to locate firearms and spent shell casings.

Additionally, the K-9 unit is trained in patrol functions, with the focus placed on tracking suspects of a crime or missing persons, in addition to article searches for evidence recovery.