Missing Dad with Dementia Found Dead in Floodplain Near Home He Left More Than a Week Earlier

NEED TO KNOW

• Thurman Walker, 75, was found deceased near his family home after being missing for nearly two weeks

• Walker, who had dementia, was a beloved community member and worked in IT at Nationwide Children's Hospital

• The search involved drones, volunteers and law enforcement navigating challenging flood conditions in dense woods

The body of a missing 75-year-old man with dementia was found dead in a floodplain close to his Ohio home, authorities said.

"He loved Ohio State. Loved his family. Was a family man," Thurman Walker's daughter, Brittany, 36, tells PEOPLE.

When Thurman was reported missing from his home on Aug. 19, police, family and members of the community of Groveport launched an intensive search.

More than a week later, on Friday, Aug. 28, his body was discovered during an organized search effort involving multiple volunteer and public safety agencies, officials in Groveport said. His family was made aware that he was found by local law enforcement officials.

"He was literally a big kid in a man body," Brittany says about the dad of five. "He was witty, sarcastic and always had a big smile on his face. Never knew a stranger!"

She adds that he worked in IT for more than 40 years and loved his job at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, where he had worked since 2000.

Capt. Kurt Blevins of the Groveport Police Department tells PEOPLE that the search for Walker continued each day until he was found "within walking distance" of his home, where he lived with his relatives who first reported him missing.

"There had been flooding in the area, which is heavily wooded, which made the search more challenging to get through the thickets and things in the woods," Blevins says.

He adds that Walker was "a well-respected member of our community."

The Groveport Police Department immediately reached out to the community after Walker was reported missing because of concern for his immediate safety. He was last seen at 12:47 p.m. local time that day wearing a gray OSU hoodie, jeans, white shoes and a black OSU hat.

"Mr. Walker left his residence [on foot]," the initial police report read. "Due to dementia-related memory impairment, [he] may be unable to safely navigate or return home."

Brittany notes she thought her dad was just going out for a walk and got lost due to his dementia.

Drones were used to search the area, patrols were increased and other agencies were enlisted in the search effort.

Walker was found within a floodplain area near Big Walnut Creek by members of a volunteer search team. Groveport Police were notified at approximately 7:30 p.m., and recovery operations were coordinated with responding law enforcement, the Franklin County Coroner's Office and specialized support teams.

The Franklin County Coroner's Office will conduct a full examination as part of its ongoing investigation. The Groveport Police Department said the agency extended its deepest condolences to the Walker family during this difficult time.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"We also wish to acknowledge the dedication of the volunteer search organizations and public safety partners who assisted in the effort to locate Mr. Walker," the department said in a statement.

Additional information will be released after the Franklin County Coroner's Office completes its investigation.

Read the original article on People