Jefferson County, Arkansas – The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office asked the public for help Tuesday in locating a 41-year-old man who had been reported missing from the unincorporated community of Jefferson.
Authorities identified the man as Andre Ellis, who lives with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. According to the sheriff’s office, Ellis left a residence at 200 Amerson Drive on foot at about 2 a.m. on Aug. 18 and had not been seen for more than 10 hours.
At the time he disappeared, Ellis was reportedly wearing a Black Twilight shirt, blue jeans and navy blue Skechers shoes. Investigators released those details as they worked to determine where he had gone and urged anyone who may have seen him to contact authorities.
The sheriff’s office’s request for assistance came as officers and investigators searched for Ellis and sought information from members of the community. Because he had been missing for several hours, officials were asking anyone with potentially useful information to report it rather than relying on assumptions about his whereabouts.
People who had information about Ellis’s location were asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. They could also reach investigator Kirsten Garner at (870) 510-3937 or (870) 692-6908.
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The search, however, ended later Tuesday afternoon with a positive outcome.
Just before 3 p.m., authorities reported that Ellis had been located unharmed. He had been missing for more than 10 hours before officers found him.
The update brought the search to an end and confirmed that Ellis was safe despite the concerns surrounding his disappearance.
The case highlights the importance of quickly reporting information when someone is missing, particularly when authorities have reason to believe the person may require additional assistance. In this case, the sheriff’s office provided clothing and location details to help members of the public recognize Ellis and contact investigators with any information.
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No further details about where Ellis was found or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance were provided in the information released by the sheriff’s office.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office’s public appeal was ultimately resolved within the day, with Ellis returned safely after authorities and the community worked to locate him.
