Mattie's Call issued for missing Canton man with dementia
Desperate search for missing 85-year-old man
An 85-year-old Canton man has been missing since late last week. Bryon Jones left his home on Thursday evening.
CANTON, Ga. - Authorities in Cherokee County are searching for a missing 85-year-old man who was last seen Monday evening leaving his Canton home.
What we know:
Byron Jones was reported missing after he left his residence on Rock Creek Lane around 6 p.m. on April 21 in a dark blue Toyota Camry with Georgia license plate TBX7562. According to the Canton Police Department, Jones suffers from dementia and other medical conditions, and he does not have a cell phone with him.
"Mr. Jones was last seen in the River Green neighborhood," said Canton Police Officer Travis King.
A Flock camera recorded a sighting of Jones' vehicle around 7:40 p.m. near downtown Jasper, prompting police to issue a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) to surrounding jurisdictions. Agencies in Pickens County, Jasper, and the Georgia State Patrol have been notified.
"We were able to locate the car with our Flock system when he got to the bypass, he took I-575 north," said Officer King.
Jones has been entered into the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) database, and a Mattie’s Call—the state’s alert system for missing individuals with cognitive impairments—has been activated.

Byron Jones. Photos courtesy of Canton Police Department
What they're saying:
"There is a concern with him driving. His wife says he hasn't been driving for the past few years. He does have a driver’s license, but he also has dementia," said Officer King.
"We've been checking local gas stations, hospitals, local public areas," Officer King added.
"There is an active search in Blue Ridge. Fannin County is patrolling the area, and his son is out there searching for him as well," said Officer King.
Investigators have kept in close contact with his wife during the search. "She desperately wants her husband home safe. We're definitely going to do everything we can to bring him home safely," said Officer King.
What you can do:
Authorities are urging the public to help locate Jones as time is critical due to his medical needs. Anyone who sees Jones or his vehicle is asked to call the Canton Police Department at 770-720-4883 or Cherokee County Emergency Services at 678-493-4080 immediately.