SPRING HILL, Fla. – The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office has announced that 79-year-old Richard Ratliff, the subject of a Local Silver Alert issued on Saturday, has been found, and he is safe.
Ratliff had originally been reported missing after driving away from a home on Timbercrest Road in Spring Hill around 1:51 p.m. His vehicle, a distinct orange 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, was later spotted near Cortez and Mariner Boulevards, prompting an endangered adult alert due to family concerns regarding early-onset dementia.
According to the updated report from the Sheriff’s Office, Ratliff is in good health and is currently in the process of returning home with his family. The Silver Alert has been canceled.
ORIGIINAL REPORT: The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Local Silver Alert for 79-year-old Richard Ratliff, who was reported missing Saturday afternoon. Ratliff was last seen by family members at approximately 1:51 p.m. as he drove away from a residence located on Timbercrest Road in Spring Hill.
According to authorities, Ratliff’s vehicle was later spotted at approximately 4 p.m. in the vicinity of Cortez Boulevard and Mariner Boulevard. Family members informed deputies that Ratliff is currently showing signs of early-onset dementia.
Ratliff is described as a white male, 6 feet tall, weighing 150 pounds, with gray hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and black-and-gray pants. He is traveling in a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer that is orange with a black top, with Florida license plate 78DSKN.
The Sheriff’s Office has officially classified Ratliff as a missing endangered adult. In an official statement, the agency said, “If you have seen Richard Ratliff or know his current whereabouts, please call the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office at 352-754-6830 or your local law enforcement agency.”
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