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Dennis Dorsey Donnelly Still Missing

CHEYENNE -- More than 48 hours after he walked away from a local assisted-living facility, 85-year-old Dennis Dorsey Donnelly was still missing Friday night.

Donnelly reportedly walked away from the Sierra Hills Assisted Living Community between 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday. Police were called to the facility at 4606 N. College Drive around 9 p.m.

Donnelly is a white man, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a black Colorado Rockies baseball cap, black vest, blue denim shirt and blue jeans.

He has Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Paget's diseases, according to police. He takes medications, but does not have them with him.

Cheyenne Police St. Nathan Buseck, who has been coordinating the effort to find Donnelly, said police searched throughout Wednesday night. At dawn Thursday, staff from Cheyenne Fire and Rescue, the Laramie County Emergency Management Agency, American Medical Response ambulance service, Laramie County Search and Rescue and the Laramie County Sheriff's Department joined the effort.

Buseck said between 40 and 50 people spent Thanksgiving Day and Friday combing the northeast Cheyenne neighborhood on foot, using ATVs and in police cruisers.

"We did a reverse 911 call to about 8,000 residents in this area (Wednesday night)," Buseck said. "That did lead to some tips, but nothing that has lead to fruition.

"We've also done a lot of investigative things -- contacting the taxi cab companies, contacting hotels, putting out those missing person's fliers," he continued. "I think most of the citizens of Cheyenne realize that the family, the police department, everyone involved has worked very hard to find this gentleman."

Buseck said although cold weather often is a concern this time of year, "We've been fortunate that we've had weather that hasn't been horrible."

At this point, there is no timeframe for search-and-rescue efforts to end, the sergeant said.

When contacted Friday afternoon, Sierra Hills executive director Fred Mullings said staff at his facility are supporting efforts to find Donnelly.

"We are assisting in any way possible. We're supporting the family and the police department," Mullings said. "Our thanks go out to the many people who are assisting in the effort to locate Mr. Donnelly."

When asked how a resident like Donnelly with Alzheimer's and other medical conditions was able to walk away from the facility at the northwest corner of College Drive and Dell Range Boulevard, Mullings said he "wouldn't want to speculate on things at this time."

And when asked what he would tell someone who has a family member living there who might be concerned about their loved one's safety, Mullings said, "We would just reassure them that we are doing all we can to help out and find Dennis."

Dennis Donnelly Missing

 Missing Cheyenne Man

Cheyenne  - 11/26/2009

Dennis Donnelly he is a resident at Sierra Hills nursing home, and suffers from Alzheimers, and Parkinsons disease. Donnelly walked away from Sierra Hills last night at around 9:00.
He was last seen wearing a Rockies baseball hat, a black vest, and blue jeans.
If you think you've seen him, your asked to call the Cheyenne Police department at 637-6524.