Charlotte Ann Ruiz, 77, Missing Since 5/11/09, St. Johns County, FL [FOUND SAFE]

[Faith]

77-year-old woman missing

http://www.staugustine.com/images/051309/34326_223.jpg

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in finding a 77-year-old woman who went missing Monday.

Missing is Charlotte Ann Ruiz, who has physical ailments that make her unable to speak. She also is partially paralyzed on her lift side.

She recently moved to the 3000 block of Calle Cortez Road, in southern St. Johns County. She is believed to be driving a 1992 tan four-door Ford Taurus with Florida plates of 286WGZ. Ruiz has only been a resident of St. Johns County for two weeks and is not familiar with the area and may be confused as to which direction she is heading or may appear disoriented to those who may come in contact with her. She takes medications for various medical ailments.

Ruiz was last seen wearing brown polyester pants and a cream colored shirt. She is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 150 pounds, with grey hair and brown eyes.

She was last been seen at the Vystar Credit Union on State Road 312 Monday between 10 a.m. and noon.

Foul play is not believed to be a factor in this case, according to a statement from the Sheriff's Office.

http://www.staugustine.com/stories/051309/news_051309_011.shtml

[Faith]

Missing Woman Last Seen At Bank
77-Year-Old Woman Missing From St. Johns County

POSTED: Wednesday, May 13, 2009
UPDATED: 12:42 am EDT May 14, 2009

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The family of a 77-year-old woman who has been missing for days said they're especially worried because the woman cannot speak and isn't familiar with the area.

A Silver Alert has been issued for Charlotte Ruiz. Her family members said they haven’t seen Ruiz since Monday morning when she left her St. Augustine home in her 1992 tan Ford Taurus and never came back

"This is my sister, my best friend," said Ruiz's sister Deloris McDade. "My husband said, 'She's gone.' I said, 'What do you mean, she's gone?'"

McDade said her sister suffered a stroke about a month ago, causing some big problems.

"She can not speak. She can communicate by different signs, different motions and pointing," McDade said.

McDade said on Monday morning she was running errands while her husband and sister stayed at home. She said Ruiz signaled she was going to drive around the block.

"She took the keys and that was it," McDade said.

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said Ruiz withdrew $600 from her account at a Vystar Credit Union just a mile away from the McDade home. That was the last confirmed sighting of Ruiz.

Deputies said the search is difficult.

"By the time we had knowledge of her missing, she could have been outside of the county, being that she was in a vehicle," said SJSCO Sgt. Chuck Mulligan.

There isn't much left for McDade to do but just sit by her phone, praying for any kind of information on her sister's whereabouts.

"I just want to know if she is safe," McDade said.

Ruiz's family told Channel 4 the missing woman could be anywhere, but said they wonder if she's on her way to Colorado where she once lived.

Anyone who has seen Ruiz or has any information that could help locate her is asked to call the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office at 904-824-8304.

Previous Stories:

May 12, 2009: 77-Year-Old St. Johns County Woman Missing (http://www.news4jax.com/news/19438356/detail.html)

http://www.news4jax.com/news/19454258/detail.html

[Faith]

Family Needs Help Finding Missing Woman

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- An elderly woman is missing and may be in danger.

The family of Charlotte Ann Ruiz, 77, reported her missing to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Monday evening.

Ruiz moved to St. Augustine to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Dolores McDade, about two weeks ago.

Mrs. McDade is worried sick about her older, missing sister.

"Not knowing is killing me. It hurts. It's hurts tremendous," McDade said through tears.

A recent stroke has left Ruiz unable to speak, but she is still mentally stable and sharp. Mr. McDade said, "She beats us when we play cards."

However, Ruiz' motor skills have declined, so it's recommended she not drive.

But Monday, while Mrs. McDade was running errands, Ruiz slipped out, and took the car from the driveway.

Jim McDade said staff at the VyStar Credit Union on State Road 312 told him they saw Ruiz Monday morning around 10:00, and that she withdrew $600.

Mrs. McDade said, "She might have got into her mind to go back to Colorado, where she was happy and she wouldn't be a burden to us." McDade started to cry and continued, "which I hope we have not indicated she was a burden because she's my best friend and sister."

McDade is worried her sister, who has an independent streak, may not be able to drive like she thinks she can, does not know the area, and will have problems communicating because of the stroke.

McDade cried, "It's very, very difficult. I mean very difficult to swallow this because she has been very close to me for many, many years."

Ruiz' family believes she drove off in a 1992 tan Ford Taurus with Florida license plate 286WGZ.

She was last seen wearing brown pants and a cream-colored shirt.

McDade said she drags her leg just slightly. Ruiz also constantly dabs the corner of her mouth with a tissue because the stroke affected a muscle in her face so she drools a little.

If you recognize her from the picture to the right or have seen the car, call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=137716&catid=3

[annalyzer]

Missing Woman Found

May 14, 2009 17:28 PM

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- An elderly woman missing since Monday evening from her St. Johns county home has been found. Authorities say she is in good condition.

The family of Charlotte Ann Ruiz, 77, say the woman was found by police in Louisiana when she was pulled over after officers recognized her from the Silver Alert.

Jim McDade, Ruiz's brother-in-law, told First Coast News Louisiana police told them Ruiz was on her way to Colorado and she said she was moving back there because she was "happy" there. Officers let her go on her after she appeared to be in good condition to drive.

McDade says he had no clue about Ruiz's desire to move back, and that he and his wife, Ruiz's sister, were very worried about her.

Ruiz moved to St. Augustine to live with her sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Dolores McDade, about two weeks ago.

http://m.firstcoastnews.com/news.jsp?key=185374&rc=lo