Account
Oct 15, 2023
Oct 19, 2023
David
Moffett
71
70
69 inches
135 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
On the morning of September 29, 2023, 70-year-old David Moffett left his home in Levering, Michigan, for a walk with his dog, Stella. This simple, everyday act would soon become the beginning of a heart-wrenching mystery for his family and community. David, who lives with Alzheimer's disease, departed without his wallet or phone. When he did not return home by that afternoon, he was reported missing to the Emmet County Sheriff's Office, sparking immediate concern for his well-being. He was last seen wearing a green sweater or vest over a checkered shirt, brown carpenter pants, and a baseball cap. The last known sighting of David was by a friend who saw him near Levering and Larks Lake Road at approximately 4:30 p.m. on the day he vanished. A glimmer of hope appeared six days after David's disappearance when his dog, Stella, returned home on her own, unharmed. After resting, Stella led searchers along powerline easements where her footprints were discovered, helping to focus the search efforts on a more defined, albeit still vast, area. This prompted a massive search operation, with an estimated 28,000 man-hours dedicated by 100 to 150 volunteers and canine units. Despite these exhaustive efforts scouring the woods and remote areas, no definitive clues to David's whereabouts were found. The challenging terrain and the passage of time complicated the search for the vulnerable missing man. After ten days of intensive searching yielded no results, the Emmet County Sheriff's Office made the difficult decision on October 9, 2023, to suspend the active, large-scale search and transition to a "clue-based investigation." The case remains open, and flyers with David's information have been distributed, particularly in sporting goods stores, to alert hunters who may be in the remote areas where he could have wandered. The community remains deeply concerned, and the uncertainty of David's fate weighs heavily on his loved ones. His disappearance has also prompted legislative action, with a state representative proposing a "Silver Alert" system to create more immediate public notifications for missing vulnerable adults with medical conditions in Michigan. The story of David Moffett is one of a community's determined effort to find one of their own and the profound sadness of a family left without answers.
Sep 29, 2023
Levering
Michigan
Emmet County
49755
No
130893
Emmet County Sheriff’s Office
Harbor Springs
Michigan
Emmet County
49740
3460 Harbor-Petoskey Road, Michigan
2314398900
County
Law Enforcement
23-5630
Emmet County Sheriff’s Office
na
White
Brown
Brown
05/28/2026
