SAN LUIS OBISPO,
Calif. -- The search is on for an at-risk man missing from his care facility in
San Luis Obispo.
Police say he suffers
from a mental illness and left his medication behind.
52 year-old Raymond
John Hockaday left his home on Halloween for his daily morning walk but never
came back.
Police say this is no
the first time Hockaday up and left without warning.
"Several years ago, I
believe he is from San Diego, and when he made his way to San Luis Obispo, I
don't think he told anybody where he was going or what he was doing," says
Detective Trevor Shalhoob of the San Luis Obispo Police.
Hockaday left his home
on the 1500 block of Osos Street which is a voluntary, confidential facility for
mentally ill patients.
Facility staff
wouldn't go on camera but say they think Hockaday left town.
They say Hockaday
called them a few hours ago saying he was ok but was never coming back.
Community
Counseling Services of San Luis Obispo Executive Director James Statler says
many things can trigger a person with mental illness to leave.
"Triggers could be
some type of trauma, a loss of a critical relationship," says
Statler.
"If you don't have medication management some of your
symptoms are going to increase so things like possible delusions or fears can be
heightened and that can definitely put somebody in a place of despair and
isolation."
But Statler warns not
all mentally ill people who go off their medication are dangerous.
"I don't think the
community should be overly worried but I think it's letting this gentlemen know
that there is care and people want him to return to his home."
Police say the biggest
concern is that Hockaday is known to become catatonic without his medication and
they want to find his so he can get proper care.
Police say this will
remain a missing person's case until they see Hockaday in person and make sure
he is ok.
