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TBI: Missing Ohio Teen May Be in Middle Tennessee, Needs Medical Attention
Joshua Yates, 19, has been missing from Etna, Ohio, since Nov. 2, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says he may be in Middle Tennessee. Authorities warn his medical condition could make it hard for him to get home safely.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. â The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is asking residents across Middle Tennessee to watch for a 19-year-old man who disappeared from his Ohio home earlier this month and may have traveled to the region.
Joshua Yates has been missing from Etna, Ohio, since Nov. 2, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The Licking County Sheriff's Office, which is leading the search, believes Yates could be in Middle Tennessee, the TBI said.
Investigators say Yates has a medical condition that may make it difficult for him to return home safely, and the missing-child center says he may need medical attention. The TBI did not describe the condition or say why authorities believe he may have come to Tennessee.
Yates is described as 19 years old. No further physical description was released in the initial alert.
Anyone who spots Yates is asked to call 911 immediately if there is an emergency. People with other information about his whereabouts should contact the Licking County Sheriff's Office at 740-670-5555.
The case is the latest in a string of missing-person alerts that have put Middle Tennessee residents on notice in recent months. Authorities say public tips are often critical in locating people who have traveled far from home, particularly when a medical condition puts them at added risk.
Residents are encouraged to share the alert with neighbors and to report any possible sighting, even if they are unsure, rather than waiting to confirm details themselves.