Missing 66-year-old DC woman suffering from Alzheimer's found

WASHINGTON - A missing 66-year-old D.C. woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease has been located and is in the hospital, her family confirmed to FOX 5.

Nikole Scott Conerly was last seen Tuesday afternoon at her residence in the 3400 block of Quebec Street in Northwest D.C. and was reported missing the following day.

Officials said she is an avid dog walker who often walks her dog in the neighborhood and area parks. Her dog was found at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Davenport Street Wednesday evening about a mile away from Conerly's home.

Her son, Carrington Conerly, said a caretaker last saw his mother Tuesday at home, and their family thinks she may have gone out to walk her dog Wednesday morning. He said despite his mother's Alzheimer's, she has no trouble walking the dog and returning home on her own.

"The neighbors know her, they see her walking around, always smiling," Conerly said. "And this time, she just didn't come back."

On Thursday, a large group of D.C. police recruits were out searching for Conerly.

"We are not only going door-to-door, but we are checking the park areas, the alleyways behind each and every residence, and we have also enlisted the assistance of a number outside agencies to assist us," said D.C. Police Commander Melvin Gresham.

D.C. police said investigators from Montgomery, Fairfax, Metro Transit and Park Police have assisted with the search.

"I have been astounded by the MPD," said Conerly. "To know that D.C. is doing everything they can really comforts me."

He said his mother worked for decades as a clinical psychologist at Howard University and moved to Qatar in 2009 to help U.S. soldiers dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"If my mom taught me anything, it's just to keep a level head, stay calm," Conerly said. "Stressing about a situation won't aid it, won't help anything go faster."