Alert issued for residents of Knightdale

KNIGHTDALE, NC (WNCN) — The North Carolina Center for Missing Persons has issued a missing person report for an 82-year-old Wake County man.

According to the alert sent early Thursday morning, Earl Henry Merritt is believed to be suffering from cognitive impairment.

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office said Merritt was last seen leaving his home in the 500 block of Meadow Run in Knightdale in a silver 2016 Honda Odyssey with North Carolina license plate PMB-2898. His direction of travel and possible destination are unknown, but officials noted he was “previously found in Apex at a gas station.”

Merritt is described as a black man, 5’8″ tall, weighing about 185 pounds, with brown eyes and short black and gray hair. He was last seen wearing gray pants, the report said.

Anyone who has seen Merritt or knows his whereabouts is asked to call J. Hermann of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office at (919) 272-0711.