Rommie Lee Essex, 81, was last seen on February 19, 2019, in Tupelo, Mississippi, walking near the Pines Apartments in the Barnes Crossing area. He did not have a car or a cellphone when he vanished and was last seen wearing a navy blue jacket with a tan collar and a tan cap. The night before he disappeared he called his daughter from out of state in a state of panic, saying someone was trying to break into his apartment; relatives checked on him the next day and found the apartment in order, but it is unclear whether that incident is related to his disappearance.

On the day he went missing he reportedly called for a taxi but was not at the pickup spot when the cab arrived. There was concern he may have been living with a cognitive condition such as dementia and might have been trying to travel to Memphis, Tennessee. A possible sighting in Columbus, Mississippi, prompted searches with search and rescue dogs, but that lead did not produce a breakthrough and the case has since gone cold. The Tupelo Police Department is the primary investigating agency and asks anyone with information to come forward.

If anyone knew Rommie’s movements around February 19, 2019, or saw someone matching his description that day, can you share what you know?