Search ends for missing SC man who was called ‘endangered’ by sheriff’s office
A search ended for a missing South Carolina man the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office called “endangered.”
Albert Smalls Jr. was found in Lexington and was taken to a hospital to be evaluated as a precaution, the sheriff’s office said Sunday.
Information about how Smalls was found was not available.
Smalls was publicly reported missing by the sheriff’s office Saturday. Smalls’ family told the sheriff’s office that the 81-year-old Vance resident was last seen leaving the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Orangeburg at about 4 p.m. Friday.
Deputies said they were told that Smalls’ blue Ford F-150 pickup truck, with a South Carolina license plate reading “SXE731,” was seen in Ridgeville at about 6:45 p.m. Friday. That’s about 50 miles from the Lowe’s.
Smalls’ bank card was used in Georgetown at 10 a.m. Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office. That’s more than 100 miles from the Lowe’s, and over 70 miles from Ridgeville, where his pickup was last seen.
Family members said Smalls suffers from periodic memory loss, and that’s why he’s considered endangered, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office did not say if foul play was suspected in Smalls’ disappearance.
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This story was originally published March 31, 2024 at 8:46 AM.
