Lakeland Man with Alzheimer’s Found Dead After Wandering Away Post-Hurricane Milton

Photo byPolk County Sheriff's Office

By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyNews (ISC)

Published October 12th, 2024

Lakeland, FL. - In a tragic turn following Hurricane Milton, deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office located the body of an 83-year-old Lakeland man who had gone missing Thursday night. Marco Grillo, who was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease and suffered from a heart condition and poor circulation, had wandered away after the storm forced him and his wife, Suzanne, to take refuge in their van due to flooding in their Alderman Road neighborhood.

On Friday morning, October 11, 2024, at approximately 7:31 am, the PCSO Air Unit spotted Mr. Grillo’s body floating below the surface of floodwaters behind their residence. The severe flooding made it challenging for ground units to access the area, requiring the Aviation Unit to guide deputies in an airboat to recover him.

“Despite Mr. Grillo being found in his backyard, the area was so flooded that our Aviation Unit had to direct deputies on an airboat to him. Our prayers are with his family.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The incident remains under investigation, and an autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause of death. This loss underscores the dangers faced by vulnerable residents in storm-impacted areas, particularly those with health conditions.

Photo byiSkyNews