Reporter Finds Missing Michigan Woman With Dementia

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI — A story about a missing elderly woman with dementia turned into heroics for a WWJ-AM reporter. Early Wednesday, Campbell was working on a story about Barbara Kasler, 89, who wandered away from her home wearing only pajamas and slippers at around 2:30 a.m., according to police.

Just before 5:45 a.m., Campbell tweeted about Kasler's disappearance, including a description of the missing woman, saying she suffered from dementia. Police were searching for Kasler in the area of the Hunter's Creek subdivision at 23 Mile Road near Van Dyke.

Less than two hours later, Campbell was in the area of Otter Creek Dive and Oak Run when he spotted a woman wearing just pajamas and slippers, carrying a purse, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Campbell did a U-turn and spotted her again. "When I finished the U-turn, she just appeared at the back of this car that I had seen before. I recognized it because it had a smashed in rear end, so I knew I had been in that area already this morning and there she was," he said in a radio report.

Campbell had Kasler get in his vehicle, where he helped her warm up until police arrived.

The Shelby Township Police Department said Campbell called them, letting them know he'd found Kasler and telling police, "She says she's OK, just cold." Police referred to the reporter as "ol' Eagle Eye Campbell."

Campbell tweeted that the 89-year-old was safe — "cold but alive - thank God!"

Finding the missing woman isn't Campbell's only recent act of heroics. WWJ reported that on Jan. 3, Campbell was reporting from the scene of a fire when he spotted a would-be crook trying to "cash in" on the situation.

After a fire spread through a shopping center, Campbell noticed a man dressed in black peeking into the window of an empty nail salon. According to Campbell, the man then grabbed a parking sign and used it to smash the nail salon window before climbing inside.

"I pulled up to the front of the store with headlights on and he just sat there and ravaged the inside of the store, just tore it apart," Campbell said. "Even though I was sitting right here and he saw me — in a marked news truck — he rummaged around in the store and then eventually came out while I was on the phone with the Warren Police dispatch."

Police thanked Campbell for his help early Wednesday. "Welcome to Team Shelby, Mike! We owe you lunch!"

Photo via Shelby Township Police Department