A 64-year-old man who went missing from his Saanich long-term care home on Nov 23 has been found deceased on the Westshore – with his wallet and Cleveland Browns trading cards, according to family.
“I’m sad, you know, I’m sad for the outcome. And so is my family. His daughters are just devasted… It’s the outcome we all didn’t want. And there’s a lot of anger there on how this happened,” says Chris’s Dube’s niece Brittany. “There’s going to be a piece of our hearts missing forever.”
Brittany says she was contacted by police Saturday, Nov. 30 asking to visit her home around 6:30 p.m. Upon arrival she was told her ‘Uncle Dusty’ had been found deceased on Spencer Road in Langford, a roughly 20 minute drive from where a search and rescue command station had been set up for two-and-a-half days.
“We were all looking in the wrong places,” says Brittany. “They suspect that he had sat down to go through his backpack and probably suffered a medical emergency.”
The family had been raising concern throughout the week-long search for Chris, that he relied on medications for his well-being. The grandfather of three also has dementia – and they believed he would’ve been disoriented.
“I hope he went in peace,” says Brittany. “I’m very grateful for the security guard that found him. I understand it was very hard on him and I appreciate him being with my uncle until paramedics arrived.”
Chris walked away from Veterans Memorial Lodge, where his family claims he was flagged at risk of elopement and was in a secured part of the facility as a result.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and loves ones during this profoundly difficult time,” says Broadmead Care CEO Derrick Bernardo. “This is a heartbreaking loss for everyone in our community, including residents and their families, and the staff and volunteers who knew and cared for Chris.”
Broadmead Care says it’s offering grief counselling and support services to anyone who needs it. It also reiterates that staff continue to work with authorities surrounding “this event” and that it’s reviewing safety protocols.
