As National Missing Persons Week draws to a close this weekend the search continues for Queensland man Michael Lalos, who disappeared the day before his 85th birthday on July 15.
Team leader of the NSW Missing Persons Unit, Sergeant Sutcliffe, told Neos Kosmos that the 85-year-old suffers from mild dementia and Parkinson’s disease.NSW and Queensland police are conducting extensive searches.
Mr Lalos’ wife of 51 years, Tepe Lalos, is said to be distraught, granddaughter Kerynn Lalos, said. “We are devastated and we just want him home. We don’t want to go on with our lives without him.”
Police reported that Mr Lalos left his home in Coolangatta to walk to the bank and was last seen at the Centro Tweed shopping centre. He is described as 170cm tall, of Mediterranean appearance with a stocky build and short gray balding hair. Mr Lalos is Greek and speaks limited English.
In another case, Peter Raptis went missing on March 2, 2005. He was 34-years-old when he went missing and is described as Mediterranean in appearance, with a solid build, short black hair, and brown eyes. His vehicle was involved in a ‘fail to stop’ accident in Kingsford prior to his disappearance.
The launch of National Missing Persons Week last Monday was aimed at raising awareness of the issues and impacts surrounding missing persons. Police are trying to break down the myth that people have to wait 24 hours to report a missing person.
35,000 people are reported missing each year in Australia, which is one person every 15 minutes, the NSW police reported.
