On a spring morning in Midland, North Carolina, 80-year-old Calvin Knotts was last seen on May 31, 2024. He was seen walking away from his residence on Graybark Road around 10 a.m., wearing a turquoise short-sleeve shirt and blue jeans. Mr. Knotts, a Black male with gray hair and brown eyes, stood between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed around 140 pounds. A significant concern for his family and law enforcement was that he had dementia and was without his medication.
He was known to frequently take walks in his neighborhood and the nearby wooded areas, familiar paths that sadly became the starting point of an extensive search.
The response to his disappearance was immediate and thorough. The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office initiated a search, which quickly grew to include more than a dozen agencies. First responders utilized a range of technology in their efforts to locate Mr. Knotts, including GPS mapping, helicopters, drones, and thermal imaging. As days turned into a week, the search continued relentlessly. His daughter, Tameka Knotts-Polk, expressed the family's anguish during the search, stating, “Every day you're looking for him to come back, or you're looking for an answer as to what happened.” The community held onto hope for his safe return as the intensive search efforts were broadcasted, appealing to the public for any information that might lead to his whereabouts.
Tragically, the search for Calvin Knotts concluded with his passing on December 23, 2024. After he was reported missing in May, an extensive and technologically advanced search was undertaken by numerous agencies, reflecting the community's commitment to finding him. The initial alert highlighted his vulnerability due to dementia, a detail that underscored the urgency of the situation. The nearly seven-month period between when he was last seen and when he was located deceased marked a time of profound uncertainty and distress for his loved ones and the wider community that had hoped for a different outcome.Last Seen: May 31, 2024
