The Overton and Putnam County Sheriff’s offices have issued a Silver Alert for a missing elderly man.
Putnam County authorities have identified the man as 83-year-old Dr. James Smith of Cookeville. Previous information had stated Smith was from the Overton County area.
Overton-Pickett EMA Assistant Director Eric Stephens reports Smith’s truck was found unoccupied along Copeland Cove Road south of Livingston.
Authorities describe Smith as being 6-feet tall and approximately 160 pounds. Smith may be wearing a multi-colored shirt with a denim jacket, jeans, and glasses.
Smith is a dentist in Cookeville and had recently been diagnosed with dementia and walks with a cane.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and Tennessee Highway Patrol have assisted in the search with helicopters. However, Stephens said darkness and the threat of severe weather may delay their search until Friday morning due to terrain.
Anyone with information on Smith’s whereabouts are encouraged to contact Putnam or Overton County authorities.