WPRO News and the Associated Press
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Fire officials say a weekend search conducted along the Woonasquatucket River for a missing elderly woman suffering from schizophrenia and dementia came up empty.
Deputy Assistant Fire Chief Joseph Desmarais says Providence firefighters deployed a 14-foot raft while looking for 73-year-old Ana Martinez along the river banks on Sunday afternoon. Martinez’s family reported her missing around 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Police say Martinez inexplicably left her Curtis Avenue home around 5 a.m. in a white nightgown and green sweater.
Desmarais says the search started near Riverside Park and continued as far down the river as Olneyville. Martinez has reportedly wandered off into that area of the woods before.
At this time, Desmarais says it’s just a matter of somebody hopefully spotting Martinez.