Somerset, N.J. – The Franklin Township Police Department is urging residents to help locate 71‑year‑old Belinda Prentice, who has been missing for nearly two weeks. Prentice was last seen on October 7 at the ShopRite on Elizabeth Avenue, and a neighbor reported seeing her two days earlier near her home on Bamburg Court.
Family monitoring and early concerns
Prentice’s family has been closely monitoring her because of early signs of dementia. Her granddaughter, Sienna, explained that the family has filed multiple Silver Alerts over the past few years as Prentice’s memory began to fade. “She used a car before, so that was kind of the differentiator,” Sienna said. “We kept tabs on her as much as possible. When we noticed it got quiet, we went to check on her and she wasn’t there.”
Multi‑agency search effort
Franklin Township police confirmed that several agencies have joined the search. “We had help from the Department of Corrections with a bloodhound, Somerset County Sheriff’s Office with a canine,” said a public‑safety official. The team also employed a drone equipped with thermal imaging, searched Prentice’s house and surrounding fields, and attempted to locate her cell phone, which was at home at the time.
Public assistance requested
Authorities have investigated numerous tips but have yet to locate Prentice. Because of her dementia, the police ask the public not to approach her directly if she is found. “Please snap a photo and let police intervene,” the official advised.
Prentice’s granddaughter said the family is expanding the search to nearby neighborhoods, including Hamilton Street and the city of New Brunswick, and is reaching out to local businesses for any surveillance footage.
Community response
Neighbors and local businesses have been asked to review security camera recordings and report any sightings to the Franklin Township Police Department. The department emphasized that any information, no matter how small, could be crucial in bringing Prentice home safely.
“My grandma’s a smart cookie, even with the cognitive impairments. She’s the smartest person I know,” Sienna said, expressing the family’s determination. “I just want to get her home.”
How to help
Anyone with information is urged to contact Franklin Township Police at (732) 555‑1234 or submit tips online through the department’s website. The search remains active, and officials say they will continue to use all available resources until Prentice is located.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
