Retired teacher with dementia goes missing, cousin says she thought she was going to church

Ernestine Merritt, a 79-year-old retired teacher with dementia, was last seen leaving her Ellenwood home early Jan. 4 and a Mattie's Call alert was issued; family and her church have been searching while police reported no new updates.

Ernestine Merritt, a 79-year-old retired high school English teacher who has been diagnosed with dementia, was reported missing after leaving her home in Ellenwood early on Jan. 4. DeKalb County police issued a Mattie's Call to notify the public, and members of Greenforest Community Baptist Church and family have been conducting local searches. When contacted on Jan. 7, DeKalb County authorities said there were no new updates in the search. Known details: - The missing person is reported as 79 years old and a retired high school English teacher who has been diagnosed with dementia. - She was last seen leaving her home on the 2400 block of Yolanda Trail in Ellenwood on Sunday, Jan. 4, at about 4:30 a.m., and a doorbell camera reportedly recorded her leaving. - DeKalb County police issued a Mattie's Call, an emergency alert for disabled or elderly missing persons in Georgia. - Church members and family have been searching and sharing information; authorities reported no new updates as of Jan. 7. Summary: The disappearance prompted local searches by family and congregation and an official missing-person alert to raise awareness. Undetermined at this time.