- April 18, 2024
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The 82-year-old man who walked away from Grand Villa assisted living facility, 535 N. Nova Road, on Feb. 8 is still missing. William Joseph Cox, called “Bill,” was a resident at the facility.
Extensive searches have been conducted by police and staff from Grand Villa, along with volunteers from the community.
The Volusia County Air One helicopter has searched for the man daily. Police have walked the area and divers have searched ponds, according to Ormond Beach police spokesman Officer Keith Walker.
No one has called saying they saw Cox, Walker said.
Cox has mild dementia, but is alert and aware, according to staff at the assisted living facility. His wife lives in the area and Walker said police have kept in touch with her.
Walker said Cox is originally from New Jersey, and police fear someone picked him up and gave him a ride out of the area.
The staff at Grand Villa, along with volunteers from other assisted living facilities and the community, searched for several days including wooded areas, according to Sandra Davis, Grand Villa executive director.
“Our number one goal is to get Bill home,” she said.
A team from Tomoka Correctional Institution sent a blood hound, which had a trail for awhile but lost it.
Grand Villa has printed 400 fliers and saturated Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach, and also sent them to truck stops on the way to New Jersey, Davis said. She agrees that Cox may have headed to New Jersey, where his daughter lives. Cox is a retired New York police officer.
Davis said family members have arrived from out-of-state to be with his wife.
Cox does not drive and is believed to be traveling by foot. He was last seen wearing a black sports style T-shirt and denim blue jeans. Anyone who has seen Cox is encouraged to contact the Ormond Beach Police Department at 677-0731 or Volusia County Sheriff’s Central Dispatch at 239-8276 to report his location.
