“It’s Very Shocking:” Family of Missing Man Concerned, Still Searching

Update Tuesday 9:00am - Angela Williams reports her uncle Horace Watson has been found.

It has been four days since 63 year old Horace Watson was last seen. According to Gwinnett County Police, Watson walked away from an assisted living home in Lawrenceville on Thursday.

Police say Watson may have been walking to a family member’s home on Tommy Lee Fuller Drive in Loganville.

Angela Williams one of those family members who lives on that street and says her uncle may have been trying to walk to her house.

“I don’t think he could have gotten far on foot,” said Williams. She says every day, Watson has a therapist who comes and walks with him to work on leg issues he suffers from due to a previous accident. But her uncle can only walk about 50 to 100 yards before he is exhausted.

The small group home at 910 Georgian Hills Drive is in a residential area. According to Williams, the nearest gas station is several miles away.

“It’s very shocking,” said Williams about Watson walking away from the home he’s been at for just a few months. He was previously placed at a home in Monroe. The family did not have any problems with that home, but Watson was relocated due to funding issues.

“This has never happened to him before,” said Williams. “Something had to happen to trigger him at the home. It’s very shocking to hear that he walked out.” 

Williams grew up in Loganville and says her uncle is well known to everyone in Loganville and Monroe. 

“We’ve been out all weekend handing out flyers from Lawrenceville to Monroe.” But Williams is worried her uncle may be heading in another direction where people may not recognize him.

“He has mild dementia, which is very clear if you talked to him,” said Williams. “He would not be able to tell you an exact address, but he could say ‘take me to Loganville.’”

Williams and her family are working with the Gwinnett County Police to find Watson. GCPD is beginning their investigation and working with the Gwinnett Bureau of Investigation on the Mattie’s Call.

“[GCPD detectives] told us ‘just use your resources. Check all the hospitals and all the jails, which we have,” said Williams. She also has spread the word on her Facebook page.

“I’m just concerned that he’s diabetic, in a coma on the side of the road,” said Williams.

Watson is described as a black male with gray hair, about six feet tall and weighs approximately 155 pounds. He walks with a limp. Watson was last seen wearing a navy blue shirt with a red collar. He does not have a cell phone or any money or access to a vehicle. 

If you have any information about Watson's whereabouts, his family and police ask you to please call police at 911.