Deputies say the search is winding down for Alfred “Sugarfoot” Pearson. They said they hope foul play isn’t a factor, and at this time, they believe he could be in another county.
- Son of Alfred 'Sugarfoot' Pearson pleads for help finding father
- OCSO says they're exhausting efforts in search
- Deputies say search is winding down
On Wednesday, the son of a missing man made a plea for help finding his father.
Pearson walked away from his Dewberry Avenue home in North Apopka, near the intersection of Hermit Smith Road and Highway 441, on Sunday.
"I want him found period. Yes I do. That’s my father," said his son, Anthony Pearson.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office says they are exhausting their efforts in an intense search. They set up a command post and utilized members of a special patrol. Several Sheriff's cruisers saturated the area Wednesday for a fourth day of searching.
"I appreciate anybody that will help us locate my dad," Anthony said.
There is real concern about Pearson’s safety. He was released from the hospital days before he disappeared. Anthony says his 75 year old father has dementia and wanders, but neighbors always help him get home. He’s never disappeared for days.
"When you have a mental issue like that, your mind might tell you to go farther or somewhere you don’t know where you’re at," Anthony explained.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office told us they've followed a couple of leads that lead to the wrong person. They want to keep Pearson's picture in the public eye and hear from anyone who's seen him.
The sheriff’s office searched by air, on land, and in the water Pearson. Since Sunday, they have searched a large area of land in a heavily wooded area, a big reason why they used a significant number of resources.
“We work very hard in every case that we do receive. In this case, this week was more intense because of his age and his condition, we exhausted every power to locate him,” said Depty Ingrid Tejada-Monforte.
If you have any information or see Pearson, OCSO encourages you to contact their office.