Man missing from care center found

A man who was missing for nearly 10 hours after walking away from his assisted living center was found unharmed sitting along I-80 Wednesday morning.

Richard Eaby has a history of walking away from the Canyon Rim Care Center, 2730 E. 3300 South, doing so at least 10 times in the past three years, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson.

About 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, workers discovered Eaby was missing. In the past, he had always returned a short time later, Hutson said. But when he did not show up by midnight, employees called the sheriff's office.

Eaby, 55, suffers from dementia and Parkinson's disease and had left both his walker and his medication in his room, Hutson said.

About 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, motorists along I-80 spotted a man sitting on a railing next to the freeway near 2700 East. Deputies checked it out and found it was Eaby. He was in good condition and had no obvious injuries, he said.

Investigators believe Eaby hiked through the gully at Tanner's Park up to the freeway.

— Pat Reavy