Silver Alert issued for 66-year-old Nashville man with dementia after evening discharge from General Hospital

What authorities say happened

A Silver Alert was issued in Nashville after a 66-year-old man with dementia was reported missing following his discharge from Nashville General Hospital.

Police identified the missing person as Walter Owens Jr. Officers said Owens was discharged from the hospital at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and did not return to his home on Southview Drive. The alert was publicized Thursday, January 29, 2026, as the search continued.

Description released to the public

Police said Owens has dementia, a condition that can significantly affect memory, judgment and orientation. In missing-person cases involving cognitive impairment, officials frequently stress the need for rapid reporting and wide public awareness because disorientation can escalate safety risks, particularly overnight and during winter weather.

Owens was last reported wearing:

• a yellow and blue shirt
• gray jogging pants
• black Crocs

Anyone who believes they have seen Owens is asked to contact Metro Nashville Police at 615-862-8600.

How Silver Alerts work in Tennessee

Tennessee’s Silver Alert program is designed to quickly distribute identifying information when an adult is missing and believed to be at risk due to age or a medical condition that may prevent a safe return without help. Under state law, a Silver Alert can apply to a person who is 60 or older and believed to be endangered due to health or other factors, and it may also apply to a person of any age with documented dementia.

State rules also outline timelines for law enforcement notification and information entry into national missing-person systems, and require that an alert be canceled once the person is found.

What the public can do now

Police are urging residents to check areas where someone on foot might seek warmth or shelter, including porches, garages, bus stops, and nearby businesses, while avoiding actions that could jeopardize safety or compromise the search. If Owens is seen, the public is asked to call police rather than approach in a way that could startle or confuse him.

If you see Walter Owens Jr., call Metro Nashville Police at 615-862-8600.

The Silver Alert remained active as of Thursday, January 29, 2026. Nashville.news will update this report as officials release confirmed new information, including any cancellation of the alert.