Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

AHOSKIE – The family of an Ahoskie man, missing now for 18 days, is seeking the public’s help in locating 66-year-old Curtis Ray Cofield.

Cofield was last seen on Sept. 23 in Ahoskie. The local police were notified two days later.

James Savage, the nephew of Cofield, said his uncle lives at a group home on Hayes Street. Savage added that his uncle suffers with dementia.

According to Savage, Cofield was last seen at the Ahoskie High School Apartments, located on Academy Street.

“My mom, his [Cofield] sister, lives in an apartment there,” Savage said. “Uncle Curtis went there to get some money to buy cigarettes. He went across the street to the store [Speedway] to buy the cigarettes. He then went back to mom’s apartment to give her the change [from the purchase]. That’s the last time anyone from our family saw him.”

Savage added that it was apparent Cofield didn’t return to the group home after leaving the apartment.

“His meal that day wasn’t touched; neither was the medicine he takes,” Savage said. “The manager [at the group home] got concerned and called the police and a report was filed.

The Ahoskie Police Department posted the information about Cofield’s disappearance on their Facebook page on Sept. 25. That post included a photo of Cofield.

“It’s crazy that another man from the same group home walked away and went missing four [previous] times, but was later found [each time[,” Savage noted. “I contacted [Hertford County] DSS and they said they would investigate.

“My uncle has dementia and takes medicine. He needs care,” Savage said.

He added that Cofield does not own a vehicle and this is the first time he’s went missing.

Ahoskie Police Chief Jimmy Asbell said his officers are tracking down all leads in an effort find Cofield.

“We had a call today (Wednesday) that Mr. Cofield may have been seen in Conway. We sent officers there only to learn that it wasn’t him.

“Here in Ahoskie we’ve checked security cameras to see if Mr. Cofield has walked by them since Sept. 23. We’re doing all we can to find him,” Asbell added.

Anyone with information on Cofield’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Ahoskie Police Department at (252) 332-5011.