O.C. Man, 71, Who Wandered From Care Home, Still Missing

A 71-year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease who wandered from a Mission Viejo assisted-living facility early Monday is still missing, authorities said Wednesday.

Troy “T.K.” Nelms was last seen wearing a navy sweatsuit and dark slippers at Paragon Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care Community around 5:30 a.m., said Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Bernardi. The staff noticed he was gone about an hour later.

Nelms, about 5-foot-6 with graying brown hair and blue eyes, has tattoos of anchors on his earlobes and his Navy service number on his right calf, Bernardi said. He also has tattoos on his forearms.

He was wearing his medical necklace but not his glasses. A flier identifies Nelms as very shy and without a wallet or money.

Paragon Gardens is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his safe return.

When he does not take his medication, Nelms can become disoriented and delusional, Bernardi said. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at (949) 770-6011.