Search Underway for Missing Rankin County Man with Dementia

RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. – Authorities are searching for a missing man last seen Sunday evening near the Rankin County and Smith County line.

According to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, a 911 call was received at approximately 10:19 p.m. on August 10, 2025, reporting that 6’4”, 190-pound Tracy Stephen Chalk had not returned from a walk in the woods near his home on Woodrow Martin Road.

Family members told deputies that Chalk, who is in the early stages of dementia, left wearing a blue shirt, blue jeans, a baseball cap, and Merrill brand hiking shoes. When he failed to return, relatives searched for him on ATVs but were unable to locate him.

Multiple agencies joined the overnight search effort, including the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department, Madison Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Department, Rankin County Emergency Operations Command, and the Mississippi Highway Patrol. Search crews used personnel, drones, and K9 units to comb the area.

After several hours, operations were temporarily suspended before resuming at daylight Monday.

Anyone with information on Chalk’s location is urged to contact the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department at 601-825-1480.