FREDERIKSTED — The search for a missing 80-year-old St. Croix man entered its sixth day today as police offices and volunteers continue to look for Michael Emmanuel, who was last seen at his Canebrake Apartments in Mars Hill early Friday morning.
Searchers have primarily fanned out across the Frederiksted area since Friday, but will now expand the search grid east on the Big Island.
Police detective Naomi Joseph said that on Monday, officers were told that Emmanuel had been seen getting into a white truck in the Frederiksted area sometime Friday.
“We want to first of all confirm whether or not this is true,” Joseph said. “If anyone remembers giving an older gentleman a ride on Friday, please just let us know so we can know how or where to expand our search.”
Officers mobilized just after sunrise Tuesday at the old Patrick Sweeney Police Headquarters in Golden Grove, then later fanned out in neighborhoods surrounding William’s Delight and eventually working south along the shoreline.
“We really had to start somewhere, and we know the other volunteers and patrol units, at this time have exhausted the Frederiksted area so we are starting here,” Joseph said. “We believe that if Mr. Emmanuel is having some type of mental breakdown or memory lapse, he could have come back to this area where he lived and frequented in his earlier days.”
Officers in vehicles and on foot searched neighborhoods, shorelines and bush areas from Carlton to Sandy Point and used the assistance of a drone to scour isolated areas on the island’s northside and through La Grange.
Police have said that Emmanuel, who also goes by the name “Dodor,” is 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a slim build and weighs about 150 pounds. He has brown eyes and a dark brown complexion. He was wearing brown pajama pants that were either striped or plaid and a white sleeveless undershirt. He was not wearing any shoes.
Family members on Tuesday said he may also have had a blue t-shirt in hand when he left the home.