Police find woman who disappeared on way to daughter's home for Thanksgiving

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinett County family is relieved to have their loved one home safe after she disappeared.

The department told Channel 2 Action News that Velma Harrison, 79, left her home on Village Oaks Drive in Dunwoody to go to her daughter's home in Peachtree Corners Wednesday evening and never made it.

She was found safely in Rome late Thursday night.

Her family tells Channel 2's Audrey Washington that they are thankful to those who shared her story.

Police said Harrison was driving a white four-door Acura 3.2 TL with Georgia tag PCX1377. Someone recognized the vehicle Thursday and called police.

Earlier on Thanksgiving Day, Channel 2's Audrey Washington spoke to Harrison's daughter.

“Here it is, a holiday, and I want my mom here,” daughter Tracie Monteagudo said. “I’m worried she’s confused. I’m scared that she’s scared.”

Police said Harrison's credit card was used at a gas station in LaGrange Wednesday. Then around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Harrison was spotted on surveillance video buying more gas at a Quick Trip in Chamblee.

The clerk told Washington that Harrison didn't seem in distress and told him that she needed to get home to cook for Thanksgiving.

Thursday afternoon, her credit card was used at a Texaco near Piedmont Hospital, according to police.

Officers were concerned she was disoriented because the location of the sightings don’t make sense.

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“There’s lots of unknowns. We don’t know if she’s slept. We don’t know if she’s taken her medications,” Dunwoody police Lt. Fidel Espinoza said.

Her daughter told Washington that her mother left her cellphone at her home in Dunwoody so they have no way to contact her.

“She’s been up all night driving, so I just hope somebody can help us locate her,” she said.

Cox Media Group