Missing Brooksville woman found deceased in Levy County, Florida
"LOCATED" flier courtesy of HCSO.
Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO)
Levy County, Florida - A missing woman who suffered with dementia, 76 year-old Joan Kaloustian, a resident of Brooksville, Florida who had last been heard from on Sunday evening, July 17, was located - deceased - in Levy County on Sunday, July 24, about 5:00 pm.
According to Levy County Undersheriff and Legal Advisor W.O. "Brett" Beauchamp, Mrs. Kaloutian's body was found on a dirt road in a heavily wooded area off U.S. Alternate Highway 27, between Bronson, Florida and Chiefland, Florida.
Deputies with the Levy County Sheriff's Office responded to the wooded area after the agency received a call from a person who had been hunting in the area stumbled upon Mrs. Kaloustian and her van on a muddy trail deep in a wooded area. Mrs. Kaloustian's van is a white 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan, bearing a Florida handicapped tag (number JX37U).
According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) in Brooksville (Hernando County), Florida, the area where Mrs. Kaloustian was found deceased is approximately 85 miles from her residence in the High Point community of Brooksville, and foul play is not suspected. Next of kin notifications were made. Mrs. Kaloustian was last seen at her residence about 4:00 pm, July 17, when she was visiting with family members who left her residence to travel home. Her family members had spoken with her, about 8:00 pm the same evening, via the landline at her residence. Mrs. Kaloustian went missing, some time after 8:00 pm on Sunday, July 17, and before 5:00 pm on Wednesday, July 20.
According to Undersheriff Beauchamp, an autopsy will be performed by a Levy County Medical Examiner, and the results are typically obtained within thirty days.
The HCSO had issued a Silver Alert for Mrs. Kaloustian, who was considered a missing, endangered adult, along with frequent updates via social media. She was believed to be in her van, without her cell phone, and it was unknown if she had her medication with her. The Silver Alerts stated that Mrs. Kaloustian had been diagnosed with dementia, that her date of birth was April 25, 1946 (age 76), her height 5 feet 7 inches, that she weighed 145 lbs., and had gray hair and brown eyes. Anyone who had seen her or had information as to her whereabouts was asked to call 911 or the HCSO with the information.