Missing 78-Year-Old Lincoln County Man found safe

UPDATE:  According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Richard Abernathy was found safe in Lexington, NC around 10 p.m. Thursday. Lexington is about an hour-and-a-half away from his home in Iron Station. Family members were on the way to pick him up late Thursday.

LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Detectives are asking for the public’s help locating missing 78-year-old Richard Abernathy of Lincoln County.

Abernathy was last seen at his home on Cinnabar Lane in Iron Station, N.C. at 12 p.m. on March 3rd.

Police say he was last seen wearing a grey long sleeve shirt, brown shorts, a brown hat, and sneakers.

Abernathy is described as 6 feet 4 inches tall, 177 pounds, with balding hair and brown eyes.

Police say he left his home in a white 2000 Chevrolet work truck with Abernathy Plumbing printed on the side and with N.C. license plate number DM-4666.

He was reportedly heading to Hardee’s in Stanely, N.C. when he went missing.

Abernathy has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-735-8202 or Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909.