A missing 26-year-old with autism was discovered on Monday following a major search in Penn Hills.
The Penn Hills Police Department said that Milton Coore was last seen at 5 a.m. on Monday on Austin Street near Universal Park. Police appealed the public for help in locating Coore, who they stated has autism and some intellectual difficulties. He was later discovered at 5 p.m.
When Coore’s family learned he had been found on Saltsburg Road, about a two-hour walk away, they rushed to see him. Coore’s mother told KDKA-TV that he receives round-the-clock care and that his caregiver was preoccupied when he went missing from his supported living facility Monday morning. His family said he appeared to be well.
The intensive search included law enforcement from multiple agencies, K-9 teams, and drones. Police have informed neighbors around Austin Street, Universal Park, and nearby communities of increased police and emergency services activity. Thousands of dollars’ worth of drones in the air and other things make it all worthwhile when you do find someone,” said Penn Hills Fire Department Station 227 Chief William Jeffcoat.
Search and rescue teams gathered in the parking area of Unity Community Church to locate Coore. “Just canvassing some of the nearby businesses,” Jeffcoat explained. “One of the local gas stations advised us that they had this individual on surveillance cameras, and he proceeded past that business down Universal Road toward this location.”
Jeffcoat reported that Coore was found in Plum almost 12 hours after his disappearance.
“A resident in the Plum Boro area off of Saltsburg Road discovered a pillow in a cemetery,” Jeffcoat explained. “That is not something we regularly see there. The security footage we have shows him leaving with sheets on, so he may have had that cushion behind the sheets, but again, what you think is a tiny detail turns out to be a significant piece of the story.”
This demonstrates the importance of reporting suspicious behavior to perhaps save someone’s life.
“Every person who took time out of their day to come and help was a huge part of this ending the way it did,” Jeffcoat said.
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