Urgent Search for Missing 78-Year-Old Woman in North Las Vegas

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Community members come together to raise awareness for missing persons, including elders.

News Summary

The North Las Vegas Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating Maxine Sykes, a 78-year-old woman reported missing. Last seen wearing a red shirt and blue shorts, she may be in distress due to medical conditions. Community vigilance is urged to help find her.

North Las Vegas – The North Las Vegas Police Department is urgently requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing 78-year-old woman, Maxine Sykes. Sykes was reported missing today, following her last known sighting on July 14 at approximately 9:02 a.m. in the 2900 block of Vigilante Court.

Sykes is described as a Black female, approximately 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 148 pounds. She has gray hair and brown eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a red family reunion shirt with gold lettering that reads “Sykes” and blue shorts. Authorities indicated that she left the area in a black 2008 Lincoln Town Car, a four-door sedan with Nevada license plate number 452-G67.

This missing person case is particularly concerning as Sykes has medical conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, and may exhibit early signs of dementia. It has been reported that she does not have her medications with her, and she is without a cellphone or any tracking devices. Sykes is known to frequent areas such as casinos and retail locations like Walmart and Target throughout the Las Vegas valley.

Anyone with information regarding Maxine Sykes’s whereabouts is urged to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department at 702-633-9111.

Rising numbers of missing persons in Las Vegas

The case of Maxine Sykes highlights a concerning trend in the Las Vegas area, as the city has seen a significant rise in missing person reports in recent years. Last year alone, nearly 7,300 missing person reports were filed with the Metropolitan Police Department (Metro) in Las Vegas. From 2020 to 2023, the number of reported cases has seen a steady incremental increase, with a noted 10 percent rise in missing person reports for the current year.

In fact, as of mid-February of this year, approximately 900 missing person reports have already been filed. Sgt. William Gethoefer of Metro’s Missing Persons Detail noted that Las Vegas is considered a “hotbed” for missing person cases, driven by a high volume of visitors. This influx contributes to the complexities of tracking and resolving these cases.

Despite the volume of cases, Metro’s Missing Persons Unit achieves a high solve rate, with over 90 percent of missing person cases being resolved quickly. Among the 7,288 cases reported last year, 7,054 were successfully closed, demonstrating the effectiveness of law enforcement in these investigations. However, there remain longstanding cases, such as that of Jessica Foster, highlighting the emotional impact that missing persons cases have on families.

Elderly individuals, juveniles, and those with diminished mental capacity represent a significant percentage of the individuals reported missing. Metro works collaboratively with the coroner’s office on cases involving missing persons to ensure a thorough investigation.

The resolve of such cases brings relief and satisfaction to families who often await answers about their loved ones. The Missing Persons Unit boasts an impressive 98 percent solve rate for active cases. Nevertheless, the emotional toll of cases that remain unsolved, as exemplified by the case of Jessica Foster, serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement and the families affected.

As the search for Maxine Sykes continues, the North Las Vegas Police Department is stressing the importance of community awareness and vigilance in aiding their efforts to locate this vulnerable individual. The encouragement for public involvement may prove critical in addressing the rising concerns surrounding missing person reports in the Las Vegas area.