Gonzales County jail staff identifies subject as man missing more than year

Editor’s Note: The Inquirer is not releasing the name of the individual who was found at this time as he is being treated for a mental health issue and there are concerns about protected health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

One out-of-state family will get a special gift for Christmas this year in knowing that a relative who had been missing for more than a year has been found alive and will now get mental health assistance he needs.

On Thursday, Dec. 5, Gonzales County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about a male subject walking on the roadway in the 7400 block of Texas 304. When deputies arrived, the male subject was not willing to identify himself or communicate in any way with deputies, so he was transported to the Gonzales County Jail for safety.

During the booking process, the male subject was compliant but verbally unresponsive to the jail staff. A search of the individual’s belongings yielded an identification card which matched the subject.

Corrections Cpl. Casey Ulrey had a feeling there was more to the man’s story when he was turned over to the custody of jail staff. Performing a Google search of the man’s name, Ulrey found multiple news articles showing the man had been reported missing by his family more than a year earlier.

However, because the man had apparently left home voluntarily, his case had never been entered into the National Crime Information Center Database, which would have immediately flagged his name upon entering his ID into the system.

Cpl. Ulrey then notified Deputy Haeden Perrenot of this information and both Perrenot and Patrol Sgt. Jonathan Lorton began to do an extensive search in attempt to locate the missing man’s next of kin. After contacting several other law enforcement agencies, they were able to make contact with a member of the man’s family, who expressed relief their loved one had been located. It was also determined that no criminal charges would be sought on the male subject.

The man was evaluated by mental health professionals and later transported to a facility to seek further treatment for the mental health crisis he was experiencing.

“Without Corrections Corporal Ulrey's intuition and willingness to help, we would have never learned this male subject was a missing person and he would not have received the help he so desperately needed,” Sheriff Keith Schmidt said. “We are not releasing the name of the individual because charges were not filed.”