Public's Help Sought To Find Man Missing Nearly 7 Years

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help to track down a missing 72-year-old man.

The LAPD describes the missing man as a cold case.

Adolfo Del Rio, who has Alzheimer's, was last seen on November 15, 2007.

Del Rio was last seen in the 100 block of South Virgil Avenue in the city of Los Angeles, according to authorities.

KCAL9's Suraya Fadel spoke to the man's son, Kenneth Del Rio, who said the last six years have been painful.

His father went out for a walk and never returned.

"Our family has felt essentially lost," says Kenneth, "because we don't have our patriarch."

For years, the family has passed out flyers, canvassed several southland communities and searched his favorite eating places and beaches.

"So many memories missed, so many opportunities just to tell him we love him," says Kenneth.

Adolfo's wife of 36-year told Fadel she still holds on to her faith that Adolfo will come home to her. Her son says, "Hope is the last thing that fades. And at the same time, no news is good news."

She said he immigrated to this country from Cartagena, Colombia. Mrs. Del Rio says her husband was a retired hotel banquet manager who worked several Hollywood awards shows and presidential visits.

The missing man is Latino, has gray hair and hazel eyes. He stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds.

Del Rio wears glasses and should be wearing a Safe Return Identification bracelet with a marking from the Alzheimer's Association.

If you have seen him, you are asked to call the LAPD's Missing Persons Unit (213) 996-1800 24 hours a day.