DECATUR COUNTY, GA (WTXL) — The Grady County Sheriff's Office is distributing 200 free scent preservation kits designed to help search dogs locate missing persons faster — a resource aimed at families of children with special needs and seniors at high risk of wandering.
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Mary Koroma moved back to Whigham in 2024 after learning her brother, who lives with Alzheimer's, had started wandering outside the home. She said understanding how quickly a few confused steps can become a dangerous situation is one of the scariest parts of caring for a loved one at risk.
"You just don't know what can happen. You know, they can get hit by a car, they can, someone can just pick them up and take them. You just don't know what can happen to your loved one. And they are not aware of what they're doing. They're not aware of that reality is gone from them, it's escaped," Koroma said.
For families caring for someone at high risk of wandering, those disoriented steps outside can quickly turn into a full-scale search. Deputies can spend valuable time searching for an uncontaminated piece of clothing for a K-9 to smell before a search even begins.
The scent preservation kits are designed to cut that time significantly. Each kit includes a cloth used to wipe on the body, which is then stored inside a jar that law enforcement holds for up to 7 years. The kit also includes a flash drive with questions to pre-fill out — the same questions K-9 handlers typically ask when they first arrive on scene.
Grady County Sheriff's Office Captain Levi Newberry said the person who reported a missing loved one may not remember important or timely details in the moments immediately after. He said the kits can significantly speed up their response.
"I mean, depending on how far the person went, if it was a mile or whatever, then I mean 15 or 20 minutes, and they could find them," Newberry said.
Koroma encouraged neighbors to take advantage of the resource.
"They don't have to walk this trail alone. There's help out there. Reach out and get it," Koroma said.
The kits are free and available to residents in Grady County and surrounding counties. Contact the Grady County Sheriff's Office for more details.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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