Walter Gella, a 78-year-old military veteran with dementia, was last seen on December 1, 2025, after leaving his Fruitland Park, Florida, residence on foot. He was first brought back to his Seminal Avenue home by his brother after wandering earlier that day believing he had won a new car, but he disappeared again later and was last seen walking west on Berckman Street wearing a red shirt and tan shorts. Gella is 6 feet 1 inch, about 180 pounds, with long white hair, a white beard, and brown eyes.

The Fruitland Park Police Department lists him as missing and endangered (case 25FR19393) and his disappearance is recorded in NamUs as MP156101. Searches of nearby wooded areas Gella frequented, including efforts using cadaver dogs, have not turned up signs of him, and investigators say they have exhausted leads. He is known to travel to Daytona Beach, more than 70 miles away, but Volusia County authorities had not reported contact with him after his disappearance.

If anyone saw Walter on or after December 1, 2025, or has information about his usual routes and destinations, please come forward.