Brad Solomon Missing In Cozumel, Mexico

Brad Solomon Missing – The family of a Charleston man who suffers from dementia says he has been missing since last Wednesday in Cozumel and they want others in the Lowcountry to be proactive so no one else has to go through this.

Charleston native Edmond Bradley Solomon III just celebrated his 66th birthday with his wife and family at the beginning of the seven-day cruise to Mexico.

“My sister knew it would probably be the last vacation that she was able to take with Brad based on his deterioration over the last couple of months,” Ashley Hyer, Solomon’s sister-in-law, said.

Solomon’s family says In 2022 doctors had confirmed that he has been suffering from frontotemporal dementia, which is an earlier onset dementia that causes personal, behavioural and emotional changes in one’s personality. The group went shopping along the terminal area docked in Cozumel when Solomon wandered off. While Brad’s wife was busy looking at shopping items, he just disappeared.

“In a grocery store,” Hyer said. “And the grocery store owner tried to approach him and he ran.”

Medical University of South Carolina Neuroscience professor Dr. Heather Boger says wandering is very common for those with dementia. She advises how to best approach the situation if one recognizes a missing person who may have some sort of mental diagnosis.

“Obviously don’t broach the person, but instead follow them,” Boger said. “Contact law enforcement, number one response. And try to follow that individual and keep law enforcement on the phone until you have the connection made between the three parties.”

Boger says if someone’s loved one has dementia, to get a tracker. “Baby-proof” or “dementia-proof” the house so they don’t have easy access to things that may harm them. In these situations you should be proactive.

Further, Boger said “Be patient with the individual because you don’t understand what they’re going through, they don’t ultimately understand what they’re going through. And you want to be as patient with them as possible, but make sure you also realize the warning signs so that they’re getting the proper care and attention.”