A disabled veteran from Clarkesville who was the subject of a statewide Mattie’s Call has been found safe. Clarkesville police located 74-year-old James Brian Whittum at a motel in Rabun County on Monday, Feb. 6. They say he’s in good condition.
Authorities issued a statewide lookout for Whittum after a caregiver reported him missing on Feb. 1. She said she last saw him driving his Toyota Highlander on State Route 17 near Hills Crossing in Clarkesville. He was headed toward the GA 365/GA 385 interchange at the time.
Whittum suffers from dementia with short-term memory loss and other medical conditions, police say. He had recently moved to Clarkesville from Clayton. There were concerns that he may have gotten disoriented trying to find his way home.
On Feb. 3, traffic cameras spotted Whittum’s vehicle near Peachtree City south of Atlanta. Clarkesville Police Chief Brad Barrett says it appears Whittum traveled to that area before returning north to Rabun County.
“We’re thankful that he was found safely. We’re thankful that he’s ok and thankful for the public’s assistance,” Barrett says.
