June 7, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 19 Missing Woman Search Continues By SHAWN J. SOPER NEWS EDITOR BERLIN – New details emerged this week in the search for an elderly Berlin woman with dementia and short-term memory loss last seen at her residence near South Point on Memorial Day. Putney said much of the search Shortly after midnight on Tueseffort thus far has concentrated on day, May 28, the Worcester County the water and the marshSheriff’s Office received a es in and around South missing persons report Point, but he continues to on Helen Stephanie Dahave reservations about vid, 77, from her son, that possible outcome. Ryan Putney. David lives on Carefree Lane and “Their initial instincts was last seen by family were she ended up in the members shortly after 3 water and there have p.m. on May 27. been at least two dive team searches, a sonar Throughout last week boat search and dog and in the days since, an teams searching the extensive search has marshes,” he said. “My been conducted in the HELEN DAVID instinct is she is not in the South Point area and along the Route 611 corridor on the water. For one thing, she was wearground, by air and in the water and ing Birkenstock sandals which float and they surely would have been marshes to no avail. found.” At the height of the search last Putney said he has a couple of week, local law enforcement agenworking theories about his mother’s cies were assisted by the Civil Air Patrol and search and rescue teams possible whereabouts. He firmly befrom as far away as the western lieves someone picked her up. shore and an army of citizen volun“I think someone offered her a teers combed the woods and prop- ride,” he said. “She is very friendly erties around South Point by flash- and she would be willing to accept light. help.” While the search continues this If someone did offer David a ride, week, the massive effort has been Putney has a few theories on what scaled back somewhat as the days could have happened next. For David has been missing continue to example, Carefree Drive, which is pass. Putney said yesterday the essentially a long driveway to her local authorities continue to search, home, is not distinguishable from but are considering the effort more other long driveways in the rural arof a recovery now and not a rescue. ea and she might have been drop“They’ve significantly cut back, but there is only so much they can do,” he said. “They are doing the best they can with the limited resources they have and they continue to have great positive attitudes, but they’re considering the effort to be in the recovery stage now.” The search was bolstered this week when the Delaware Search and Rescue K-9 group, an all-volunteer citizen agency with decades of expertise in the recovery of missing persons, particularly those with dementia and Alzheimer’s for example, was enlisted and approved by local law enforcement to join the effort. According to Putney, the Delaware Search and Rescue K-9 group was contacted on Sunday and a meeting was coordinated with local law enforcement on Monday. “That’s very important because they are in a rescue mode, not a recovery mode,” he said. “They have 20-plus years of experience working with law enforcement agencies and they have a high success rate. The big thing is they have specific behavioral education for cases like this. This is what they do.” Meanwhile, Putney this week revealed some new details that had not yet been made public. For example, he said an eyewitness reported seeing David walking down South Point Road around 8:45 p.m. ped off at a different one. Putney said some of the homes in the area are part-time summer residences and the owners might not have been back since Memorial Day weekend. In another scenario, Putney said people with dementia sometimes tell others trying to find out where they live where they were born or where they grew up, lending credence to the theory a vehicle could have picked David up and attempted to take her to her hometown in Pennsylvania. Putney’s third possible scenario is more sinister. “She is very friendly and warms up to people quickly,” he said. “Maybe someone picked her with good intentions, and through the course of events became opportunistic.” Meanwhile, Putney remains optimistic for a happy ending. “I continue to have a lot of positive energy and I’m hopeful she’ll be found alive and well,” he said. “The community has been wonderful and there are a ton of prayers headed our way, so I’ve got to keep a positive attitude and hope for the best. I really feel good about Delaware Search and Rescue joining the effort.” Anyone with information about David’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 410632-1111. on Memorial Day evening nearly six hours after she had last been seen at home. “The witness gave a name and number, so he has credence and legitimacy,” he said. “The witness was also able to describe my mother down to the clothes she was wearing, her age and her body size.”