Colorado authorities have issued a Senior Alert for a 76-year-old missing Wyoming woman with dementia who was last seen early Monday morning in Colorado Springs.
Martha James, of Rock Springs, has been missing since Saturday late afternoon when she left home in her vehicle. James has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia and her family is worried she may be lost and not able to find her way home.
Fuel purchases on James’ debit card trace her from Rock Springs to Colorado Springs between Saturday and Monday, where she stopped for gas around 3 a.m. Monday, her sister-in-law Suzanne James told Cowboy State Daily.
James is traveling in a 2022 Silver Nissan Rogue and thought to be with her two dogs, a tan Chihuahua named Sergeant and white miniature poodle named Baby Doll.
James does not have a cellphone, but is possibly wearing a life alert device that contacts family members in the event that she presses the button for help or falls.
The Cheyenne Police Department did not return a request for comment.
Went On A drive
James’ family became concerned when she did not return home Saturday evening.
Their worry turned to panic after her friend reported that James was not home when the friend went to pick her up for church Sunday morning.
They then called police and reported her missing.
Suzanne believes that her sister-in-law decided to go for a drive Saturday when she couldn’t find the remote control to her television.
Though in the past James liked to take daylong scenic drives with her dogs, she hasn’t done so in recent months because of her slipping memory. In the past, James always returned before dark and did not take weekend trips requiring overnight lodging.
In fact, James prefers to stay close to home and follows well-worn routes for groceries and other errands.
Lately, her memory is getting worse, Suzanne said.
“She's gotten lost around town, but has always come to our house,” Suzanne said. “Because she remembers how to get here, and from our house, she remembers how to get back home.”
A trip of this length is out of character for her, Suzanne said, nor does James have family in the Colorado Springs area.
Traced To Colorado
James’ brother, Jim, acquired his sister’s bank transactions, showing she last bought fuel in Rock Springs at 5:37 p.m. Saturday evening.
The next fuel purchase was at 12:25 a.m. in Cheyenne on Sunday, followed by subsequent fuel stops in Wellington, Colorado, at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Larkspur, Colorado. The most recent transaction was for fuel in Colorado Springs around 3 a.m. Monday.
Neither the Rock Springs Police Department nor Colorado Springs Police Department responded to Cowboy State Daily questions confirming it was James who was seen on video surveillance at gas stations in Wyoming or Colorado.
Potential Dog Sighting
Suzanne received a Facebook message from a person in a dog group who reported seeing a tan Chihuahua running loose along Wyoming Highway 351, near the junction of U.S. Highway 191 in central Sublette County near Big Piney.
The woman was unable to catch the dog, Suzanne said.
James is described as a 76-year-old white female about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and around 265 pounds. She has cognitive impairments that may render her confused. She is driving a silver 2022 Nissan Rogue with Wyoming license plate No. 453620.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rock Springs Police Department at 307-632-6575.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
