86-year-old Arizona man missing after canceled rideshare
PHOENIX - An Arizona man has been missing since a canceled rideshare request, and family members say they are worried.
Loved ones of George Barger said they last heard from the 86-year-old man on Oct. 29. They said the last thing they heard was that George was taking a rideshare to an Olive Garden location on 75th Avenue and Thomas.
However, officials with the service told us that the rideshare driver assigned to pick up Barger canceled.
Family members speak out
On Nov. 2, we spoke with Barger's daughter-in-law, Celeste, and Barger's granddaughter, Destinee Guevara.
"I'm a mess. An absolute mess," said Celeste. "I'm, like, doing everything I can, but there's only so much you can do."
Celeste reportedly got an update from a service called GoGoGrandparent that George requested a ride to that Olive Garden.
"We just kind of like, ‘OK, something’s wrong,'" Celeste recounted. "We tried to check on him, and he wasn't there."
Destinee said her family is doing everything they can to find him.
"He visits the same three locations all the time," said Destinee. "That's the spot we check every single day. We go every morning, every afternoon and every evening, and he's just not there."
On Nov. 3, we spoke with George's son, Kyle Barger. Kyle flew in late on Nov. 2 to help search for his father.
"He's one that I didn't have a relationship with when I wanted it, but he's the one I have a relationship forever, and he's the one that has taught me how to be who I am. I don't know what to do," said Kyle, who was emotional at various points of the interview.
The family also shared a doorbell surveillance video showing the last time George was seen. In that video, George was seen walking away from a home.
Family members said George has mild dementia, and is known to be chatty.
"If you see him, he has little bouts of confusion sometimes, but for the most part, he's pretty with it, so he would know how to get home," said Celeste.
"He'll talk to anybody and everyody," said Destinee. "He's probably the most social person I know."
Celeste and Destinee both want to find George as soon as possible.
"[There are] hundreds of people putting posters and scoping the neighborhood, talking to everybody," said Celeste. "We need him home. He's a great guy. He's a sweet guy."
"We just want him home," said Destinee.
Georgeis 5'6" tall, weighing 120lbs, and has brown eyes and brown hair. His family says he is always carrying his fanny pack. Anyone with information on where he may be should call Phoenix Police.
George Barger