BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Hours after an elderly Martin County woman did not return home from a visit to a food pantry, law enforcement located her vehicle in Rockcastle Creek on Old Route 3 in Inez. Martin County Coroner Chris Todd pronounced 72-year-old Patty Taylor of Riverfront Road deceased at 1 a.m. Thursday.

Taylor’s family, led by calls from her granddaughter, Cassie Diamond, grew concerned and reported her failure to return home from Appalachia Reach Out’s food pantry. Diamond confirmed with pantry volunteers that her grandmother had picked up food at approximately 11 a.m. and left the location to head back to Riverfront Road. She never arrived, and there were no further reports of her stopping anywhere along her route home.

“My deputies did not get involved in the search until Wednesday evening,” Martin County Sheriff John Kirk stated. “We were not notified of the missing person report before that time. Nightfall complicated the search and slowed attempts to retrace the steps of the elderly lady.”

He added, “Time is of the essence in cases like this.”

According to Sheriff Kirk, Constable Brad Preece and local towing service owner Robbie Jude were part of the search party. While driving along Old Route 3 with spotlights, they discovered evidence of a vehicle leaving the roadway and going over an embankment near Crooked Run. Upon further investigation, the two discovered Taylor’s vehicle upside down in the creek.

Attempts to rescue the victim were in vain, Kirk said.

“This is never the outcome we want to see,” he added. “Our heart breaks for the loss suffered by Ms. Taylor’s family and I ask that you lift them up in your prayers. I wish we had been able to locate the scene of the accident earlier that day, but I’m grateful we were able to find her when we did. We began an extensive search as soon as we heard she was missing.”

Diamond had taken to social media Wednesday asking for the public’s help to locate her grandmother. After being notified of the outcome of the search, Diamond posted a thank you to all who helped in the search.

“Now that we have notified family, I want to thank everyone for trying to help us find my precious grandma,” wrote Diamond. “She has wrecked her car and is now resting in heaven.”

An investigation continues into the cause of the accident.