Search continues for missing Providence woman

December 29, 2015 5:20 pm

By Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

@anabottary

Police are still searching for a Providence woman who went missing on Christmas day.

A surveillance video of 73-year-old Ana Martinez leaving her Curtis Avenue home early Friday morning is the only hope her husband Victor has to hang on to.

"My wife left the house at five in the morning on December 25th. It’s already been five days," says Martinez.

The video shows Ana walking down the driveway of their home and continuing down Curtis Street. Martinez is extremely worried about his wife of more than 50 years, especially with the cold and snowy weather. He tells ABC6 News that Ana suffers from Alzheimers, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, and is without her much needed medication.

"We’ve been sleeping in separate rooms because of the situation of her mental illness, but that’s how she left the house, she just walked out," says Martinez.

Martinez says someone reported possibly seeing her the morning she disappeared in front of the police station on Broadway Street. He and his family, as well as police, have been actively searching for Ana, particularly in places she is known to walk around like down by the Woonasquatucket River. They’ve also placed flyers around the neighborhood with her picture on it, hoping someone will recognize her and bring her home.

Sunday, police and fire crews carried out a water search in the Woonasquatucket River. The search was unfounded. Wednesday, police and search dogs combed the Olneyville neighborhood. Sgt. Michael Wheeler said that teams are looking in vacant buildings, parks, and along the river.

Martinez is Hispanic with black hair and brown eyes. She is 5’2" and weighs about 160 pounds. She was last seen wearing a white nightgown and a green sweater. She only speaks Spanish.

Anyone who may have seen Martinez or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact the Providence Police Department at (401) 272-3121.