Walter Gella, a 78-year-old military veteran, was last seen on December 1, 2025, after he left his residence in Fruitland Park, Florida, on foot. The Fruitland Park Police Department is investigating his disappearance and has listed him as a missing and endangered person due to a diagnosis of dementia. His case is documented under NamUs case number MP156101 and Fruitland Park Police Department case number 25FR19393.
On the day he went missing, Gella had reportedly wandered from his home on Seminal Avenue earlier, believing he had won a new car, and was brought back by his brother. He disappeared again later that same day. When last seen, Gella was walking west on Berckman Street. He has white hair and brown eyes, stands at 6 feet 1 inch tall, and weighs approximately 180 pounds. He was reportedly wearing a red shirt and tan shorts at the time of his disappearance and has a white beard and long white hair.
Authorities have conducted searches in wooded areas that Gella was known to frequent, utilizing resources such as cadaver dogs, but these efforts have not yielded any signs of his whereabouts. Police have exhausted all leads in their search for him. It has been noted that Gella has an affinity for traveling to Daytona Beach, which is over 70 miles from his home; however, law enforcement in Volusia County had not made any contact with him following his disappearance.Last Seen: Dec 1, 2025
