Search zone for missing 80-year-old woman expands

80-year-old Margaret Gallaway was last seen Monday around 1:45 p.m.

Thursday, Marco Patriots Disaster Response volunteers joined in the search for her. Many of the members are former military, law enforcement, or medical professionals. They also called on others from the community to join in the effort.

Gallaway, who suffers from dementia and is simultaneously non-verbal, was last seen in her Crown Pointe neighborhood near East Naples on a Ring doorbell camera.

Thursday, the search area expanded to Kings Lake, a neighborhood off Davis Boulevard and near Gallaway’s home.

“She really got really far. I felt she was a half mile away already from her house within half an hour,” noted volunteer Carrie Blackford.

“I know having family members that had Alzheimer’s, they can walk and walk and walk for hours. So, it’s important to expand the search,” said Yvette Benarroch.

WINK News reporter Liz Biro spent much of the day with the volunteers. They went door-to-door with flyers, checked homes and storage units, and walked through the brush but did not find Margaret. They did report everyone they spoke to was aware of the situation and concerned.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office leads the entire operation, continuing to search by ground and air.

Christina Bodenheim volunteered with the Marco Patriots. She is also Gallaway’s neighbor.

“I can hardly sleep. I’m always checking my phone and looking to see what’s going on with us. So anything I can do to try to advance it hopefully to a positive conclusion would be really good,” said Bodenheim. “I don’t know the family personally. But just being a community member, it’s heartbreaking that someone’s been missing this long.”

If you have any information on Gallaway’s disappearance or spot her, call 911.