Deputies issue silver alert: 72-year-old DeBary man returning from Orlando in VW Jetta doesn't make it home

Albert Kaplan, 72, of DeBaryDEBARY -- A 72-year-old DeBary man was driving back from Orlando Thursday, but never made it home and now Volusia County deputies are asking the public to let them know if they see him, agency spokesman Gary Davidson said just before midnight.

Albert Kaplan drove off from his home on Madera Road in DeBary at 2 p.m.

"Five hours later, his wife said someone in the Orlando area called to tell her that he had come across Kaplan and had given him directions on how to get back to his house," Davidson said.

The wife then His wife then called the Sheriff's Office at 8:14 p.m. asking for help in locating him to make sure he got home. Because Kaplan suffers from dementia and other medical ailments, the Sheriff's Office launched a Silver Alert through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to assist in the search for Kaplan. Area hospitals also were contacted.

Kaplan was seen driving his black, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta with Florida tag, "BDD1X." The license plate is a retired U.S. Army tag.

Kaplan is 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds. He has gray hair, brown eyes and a light complexion and was last seen wearing black pants and a blue polo shirt. Anyone who sees Kaplan or his vehicle is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at (386) 736-5999.