Lee County cancels alert after missing 78-year-old found safe

At 8:20 p.m., the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that Gary Allen Lugeanbeal, 78, has been located safe and is now with family, and the alert has been canceled.

The post said the sheriff’s office thanked the Union County Sheriff’s Office for assistance in locating Lugeanbeal. The sheriff’s office had originally issued an alert saying Lugeanbeal was missing from 148 Stratton Drive in the Carr Acres area and was last seen around noon.

Updates from the sheriff’s office posted on social media said Lugeanbeal’s car was last spotted about 6:18 p.m. on Highway 45 toward Saltillo and that he was later reported seen at 7:09 p.m. on Highway 348 toward Union County. The post also said Lugeanbeal suffers from a condition that can cause confusion and disorientation.

Local sheriff’s offices often use social media and community alerts to help locate vulnerable missing people quickly. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office serves as the primary law enforcement agency for Lee County, Mississippi, and regularly coordinates with neighboring agencies on searches and public-safety notices.

We will provide more information as it becomes available.