A 21-year-old developmentally disabled woman who disarmed a door alarm and left her Riverhead group home was found safe just minutes after disappearing thanks to technology from Project Lifesaver.
The woman, a resident at the group home, was tracked using a wrist-worn transmitter bracelet that she was recently registered for as a Project Lifesaver client.
The Project Lifesaver program is a countywide emergency response locator service implemented in 2013 capable of finding individuals diagnosed with cognitive impairments which may cause them to wander and become lost.
The Sheriff’s Office Communications Bureau received the report of the missing woman on the Project Lifesaver Emergency Hotline at around 7 p.m. on July 20. After arriving on the scene, Deputy Sheriff Sergeant Douglas Forte and Deputy Sheriff Michael Bercht used a hand-held receiver to track the signal to a heavily wooded area near the group home. There, responders found the missing woman 13 minutes after their arrival on the scene.
The woman was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center for minor cuts to her legs, feet, and arms. The Southampton Town Police Department also assisted in the search.
Source: Press release issued by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office.
The survival of local journalism depends on your support.
We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community.
Support RiverheadLOCAL today.
