Family looking for missing Lee County man with Alzheimer's

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is requesting the public's assistance in locating a missing 55-year-old, Felix Valdez.

"He just walked out and left," said Felix's sister, Christina Valdez.

Video shows 55-year-old Felix Valdez zipping up his jacket and walking out of the house on Jan. 17 from the 450 block of Figuera Avenue in Fort Myers. The family reported him missing that day to LCSO. Deputies immediately searched the area.

Felix is about 6 feet, 1 inch tall, weighs 200 pounds, and has grey/black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a dark blue hoodie, green undershirt, blue shorts, and red Crocs.

His family says Felix has Alzheimer's and diabetes.

Just about a mile down the road from Figuera Ave. is the spot where bloodhounds last picked up Felix's scent — at the intersection of Palm Beach Boulevard and Marsh Avenue.

The family believes Felix has recently been spotted in Hendry County and is searching for him there.

"Usually, whenever he wanders off, he is usually trying to get to Hendry County because this is where he has resided his whole life. He's lived in Fort Myers just for a few years. But his memory is in LaBelle," said Felix's sister, Marilyn Simmons.

LCSO says there have been unconfirmed sightings of Felix walking southbound on Marsh Ave., most recently reported on Jan. 24.

In the meantime, the family is holding out hope for when he's found.

"I don't think we're going to have words. We're just going to hug him. We're just going to hug him," said Christina Valdez.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Felix, you are asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 239-477-1000 or SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

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