BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — The search for a missing man in Hernando County has the attention of a local non-profit dedicated to finding missing loved ones.
Friday marked ten days since 69-year-old David Brown disappeared while visiting his brother in Brooksville. The sheriff's office has since halted its search after spending multiple days trying to locate him.
Members of "We Are The Essentials," a volunteer group consisting of former law enforcement officers and military service members, aim to bring answers to families with missing loved ones. They were joined by K-9 teams from Sumter County.
Surveillance photos of David Brown
"I'm holding out hope that I find him," Amy Brown, David Brown's wife, said.
Described as someone who is loved by all and makes her feel special, the couple have been married for 27 years and currently reside in Georgia.
Amy Brown said she brought her husband to his brother in Brooksville to make time for each other. She said her husband had been struggling both physically, and on a personal level as well after receiving a cancer diagnosis.
"He is sick. He's terminally ill. I know he didn't want to face that," she said. "But if I could, I'd like to bring him home and just help him through it."
Deputies said David Brown disappeared after walking in the woods with a dog. Video surveillance last spotted him in Brooksville on Batten Road, between Deerfly Road and Family Lane on Aug. 13.
There have been some sightings of him that day. He can be seen wearing a white and blue striped shirt that was torn with his back exposed, along with blue shorts.
A shoe, a sock and glasses have since been recovered.
We Are The Essentials members are asking the public to review any camera or dash cam footage from that morning and onwards to increase the chances of finding David Brown.
"I do know that there are game cameras on a lot of properties, and so if somebody has something on their game cameras, that could be crucial to the investigation in finding Mr. Brown," Shelly Croft, WATE treasurer and a licensed private investigator, said.
With David Brown's illness, the harsh conditions in the area from the heat, wildlife, and thick, dense vegetation, time is crucial in finding him, search crews said.
"Time is of the essence. We need to find him and try and find him fast," Nico Tusconi, WATE president, said. "If you remember anything or seen an individual walking, please call the sheriff's office immediately and let them know where you saw that individual."
David Brown is described as follows:
- White / Male
- Approximately 70 years old
- Grey hair
- Grey goatee
- Thin build
- White shirt with horizontal blue stripes (ripped on the back)
- Blue shorts
- No shoes and possibly one sock (was originally wearing shoes; however,
surveillance footage shows one sock only, no shoes).
Anyone with information about David Brown is asked to contact the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.