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Family searching for Manatee County great-grandfather, dog missing more than a week

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Published  December 20, 2024 10:44pm EST
Manatee County
FOX 13 News

Search for missing man

Genevieve Curtis reports

The Brief

    • A Manatee County great-grandfather is the subject of a Silver Alert after he and his dog went missing on December 10.
    • Paul Sargent, 87, has Alzheimer's and needs medication.
    • An AirTag inside Sargent's car last pinged at the intersection of Corbett John Road and SR 62.

PARRISH, Fla. - Loved ones of a missing Manatee County great-grandfather are desperately searching for him and hoping they’ll have him home for Christmas.

A Silver Alert was issued for 87-year-old Paul Sargent, who left home and has been missing since December 10. He routinely visited the Ola Mae Sims Dog Park in Parrish with his dog, Sassy. 

"Those two are inseparable. My mom actually calls Sassy my dad's girlfriend. Those two, you couldn't break them apart. He took her every day to the dog park," said his stepdaughter, Lisa Boveine.

RELATED: Missing Manatee County man sparks Silver Alert

But, Sargent's picture is now on a missing persons flyer at the park. Investigators and loved ones are searching for this husband, father and great-grandfather. Friends at the park said they can’t believe he’s disappeared.

Boveine said the last 10 days have felt surreal. 

"It’s just like someone just absolutely vanished," said Boveine. "It's like no sign of a car, the dog or him. So it just doesn't seem real. You wake up every day, go on. What's really going on? And you're just kind of confused. So everyone's been trying to keep a good attitude, not think the worst. Keep hoping for the best."

An AirTag on his 2001 silver Lincoln LS last pinged at the intersection of Corbett John Road and SR 62. It’s the last confirmed sighting of the veteran, whose personalized license plate stands for: Lieutenant, Colonel, Sergeant. 

Pictured: Paul Sargent, 87, and his dog Sassy. 

READ: Florida AMBER Alert: 5-year-old boy abducted from Lake County found safe, police say

Investigators with the Manatee County Sheriff’s office haven’t stopped looking for the 87-year-old, who does have Alzheimer’s and needs medication. They said he left home without a cell phone and without credit cards.

"He will talk to everybody and anybody is. He's just very friendly. He's a good heart," said Boveine.

Detectives have checked tag readers, used drones, helicopters, side by sides in the search to bring the veteran home. Volunteers have even searched ponds.

Investigators even updated the microchip on Sassy just in case someone finds her, there will be a message that her owner is missing too. Detective Rebecca Angel is leading the investigation, and said this case really hits home for her, because her father has dementia. 

She knows this is everyone’s worst nightmare.

"He has to be out there somewhere. The car, he has to be somewhere," said Boveine. 

Detective Angel said she really wants to bring Sargent home to his family for Christmas. Anyone with information can call the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

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