Authorities and family members say that the car belonging to an 88-year-old Dallas woman who vanished more than a year ago has been located — but she is still missing.
The Dallas Police Department confirmed on Wednesday, Nov. 5, that Myrtle Polk’s 2004 black Lexus was found the previous day in the 5600 block of South Lancaster Road.
“This morning, resources from the Dallas Police Mounted Unit and South Central Patrol, as well as private search teams, will deploy in the area to continue searching for Ms. Polk,” police said in a statement.
Phil Polk, the son of missing woman Myrtle Polk, told Fox affiliate KDFW that authorities had located the vehicle. “The family is waiting to receive any further updates,” Phil said, according to the outlet.
The car was found overturned in Five Mile Creek near Wagon Wheels Trail and South Lancaster Road, according to ABC affiliate WFAA, which cited police sources. Polk was not inside the vehicle when it was retrieved from the water by a tow truck. Officers later searched the creek’s banks but found no sign of her.
Police said Polk was last seen on June 11, 2024, around 12:00 p.m. local time, driving her Lexus in the 1100 block of Indian Creek Trail.
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Friend Charlotte Lester visited Polk’s home after she missed Sunday church service and discovered that she wasn’t there, NBC News reported. Phil, who lives out of state, became alarmed when a neighbor informed him that his mother was missing.
“I’m concerned because my mom’s 88 years old and is never out by herself this late,” Phil told NBC News earlier this year. “We get the missing persons report out Monday evening. I get to town Tuesday morning, and that’s when all of the madness ensues.”
“When I get to my mom’s house on that Tuesday, [there were] already 10 people at my mom’s house,” he added.
Family members said Polk, a retired teacher, was in the early stages of dementia when she disappeared, WFAA reported. “Our concern is that she’s gotten herself somewhere, and she’s confused and doesn’t know where she is,” Phil previously told KDFW. “We just want to bring her home safely.”
Efforts to find Polk have included community searches and the creation of a dedicated Facebook page. Phil also confirmed to WFAA that a private investigator working for the family informed him about the discovery of his mother’s car.
“The family has been preparing for any information regarding Myrtle Polk, and we are thankful for that,” Phil said. “Now we are focused on finding her.”
Anyone with information about Polk’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Dallas Police Department at 911 or (214) 671-4268.
