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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The family of a Charleston man who suffers from dementia says he has been missing since last Wednesday in Cozumel and they want others in the Lowcountry to be proactive so no one else has to go through this.

Charleston native Edmond Bradley Solomon III just celebrated his 66 birthday at the beginning of the seven-day cruise to Mexico.

“My sister knew it would probably be the last vacation that she was able to take with Brad based on his deterioration over the last couple months,” Ashley Hyer, Solomon’s sister-in-law, said.

Solomon’s family says he has frontotemporal dementia, which is an earlier onset dementia that causes personal, behavioral and emotional changes in one’s personality. The group was shopping along the terminal area docked in Cozumel when Solomon wandered off. Hyer says there’s only been a few sightings since then.

“In a grocery store,” Hyer said. “And the grocery store owner try to approach him and he ran.”

Medical University of South Carolina Neuroscience professor Dr. Heather Boger says wandering is very common for those with dementia. She advises how to best approach the situation if one recognizes a missing person who may have some sort of mental diagnosis.

“Obviously don’t broach the person, but instead follow them,” Boger said. “Contact law enforcement — again, number one response. And try to follow that individual and keep law enforcement on the phone until you have the connection made between the three parties.”

Boger says if someone’s loved one has dementia, to get a tracker. “Baby-proof” or “dementia-proof” the house so they don’t have easy access to things that may harm them. And most importantly, be proactive.

“Be patient with the individual because you don’t understand what they’re going through,” Boger said. “They don’t ultimately understand what they’re going through. And you want to be as patient with them as possible, but make sure you also realize the warning signs so that they’re getting the proper care and attention.”

Trident Area Agency on Aging dementia consultant Don Bagwell agrees that wandering is common and it can even occur with the most attentive caregivers. He says it’s easy to get overwhelmed as a caregiver, but to remember the top priority for the patient is safety.

Bagwell says GPS and technology devices are helpful too, but they have limitations and can offer a false sense of security.

Hyer says Solomon did have a tracker, but only one that works with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which stopped pinging about two hours into the search. She says everyone should have some sort of GPS tracker instead.

“That could’ve made all the difference in the world if we had just known,” Hyer said.

When talking about Solomon’s impact on their family, Hyer speaks through tears.

“He adores, Mimi, my sister,” Hyer said. “All he wants to do is be with her. So, he’s a good man.”

As the search continues, the family wants those in the Lowcountry to think about them.

“Pray,” Hyer said. “Pray about this. That Brad is found safe.”

Click here for more information on MUSC’s Memory Disorders Clinic.

Bagwell provided additional documents for a more comprehensive breakdown on keeping your loved ones with dementia safe:

TridentAAA Scans (1) by Live 5 News on Scribd

TridentAAA Scans by Live 5 News on Scribd

FBI Columbia spokesman Kevin Wheeler says they are aware of the missing person report and have been in contact with Mexican authorities, but are unable to comment further.

Royal Caribbean has also not responded for a comment.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department released the following statement on Tuesday:

The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad.

We are aware of reports of a missing U.S. citizen in Merida, Mexico.

When a U.S. citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts, and we share information with families however we can.

We are monitoring the situation and seeking additional information, and we stand ready to provide consular assistance. We have no further comment at this time.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- A family is searching for answers after a Charleston man went missing while on vacation in Mexico earlier this week.

Savannah Miller said her father Edmond Bradley Solomon III, 66, was recently diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a type of degenerative disorder that affects a person’s behavior, rather than memory.

“He sometimes says odd things and behaves erratically — or oddly — because he’s just doing what he knows how to do,” Miller explained. “He can’t process the same way you or I can.”

Solomon recently embarked on a Caribbean cruise with his wife, Mimi, and other family members. But, the trip soon took a distressing turn after he disappeared during one of their stops in Cozumel, Mexico.

Miller said the couple got off the ship early Wednesday afternoon to use the restrooms before leaving the terminal.

“When my stepmom, Mimi, came out, he wasn’t there,” Miller said. “She thought he might still be in the bathroom so she waited for him for a few minutes. He didn’t come out.”

Another family member went into the restroom to check on Solomon, but he was not there.

“That was the point that we knew he was lost,” Miller said. “We know that no matter where he was he would have difficulty understanding what was going on and communicating his needs due to his dementia. I think everyone just immediately became so terrified for his safety.”

The next morning, Miller said she received a call that her father was missing.

“I got the call about 5:30 in the morning and I just froze,” she said. “I didn’t even know how to process this information.”

Local authorities said Solomon was last seen along the road of Isla de la Pasión in Cozumel on Wednesday evening. He was wearing a white t-shirt, grey shorts, and dark sunglasses.

Solomon grew up in West Ashley and has spent his professional career working as a critical care nurse at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in downtown Charleston, according to Miller. He is also an avid surfer and fisherman, although they said his condition has limited his ability.

“He liked to be with the people that he loved…he was always making sure that we were safe and we were cared for no matter who it was,” Miller said. “He’s always been a fixer and someone who’s just drawn to helping other people.”

Miller is now pleading for the community to return the favor and help her family find their loved one.

“I think it’s important to recognize how much time he’s put into helping others and it’s time to give back,” she said. “I think the best thing that anyone can do is just spread the word. Start yelling and screaming. Elevate it as much as possible so that there is awareness and so everyone on the island is looking for him.”

Solomon’s wife has remained in Mexico while the search continues. Miller and other family members will join her this weekend. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with travel expenses.

“I’m really looking forward to having Mimi by my side and being able to give my dad a hug again,” Miller said.

The family has been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and the U.S. Consulate.

In a statement to News 2, a spokesperson for the FBI Columbia field office said they are aware of the missing person report but cannot comment at this time. The agency referred questions to the State Department.

The CITY of Charleston gave a couple a grant to plant a garden on their flood-prone property.

But the Homeowners Association took issue with it, threatening to forcibly remove it in a feud that spurred an ongoing legal battle.

Craig and Jamie Bussard grew accustomed to their yard flooding every time it rained in their hometown of James Island, South Carolina.

Subject to soggy and muddy ground with an uptick in mosquitos, the Lowcountry property's flooding became an issue for both the Bussards and their neighbors.

Their idea to build a rain garden where native plants could soak up the storms was approved by the local Homeowners Association (HOA) and property manager, reported The Post and Courier.

The couple utilized Charleston's Rainproof Mini-Grant program, receiving $200 and training on how to install the garden.

Read more on HOA

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They were accepted within one month of applying, began online training, and took to their community Facebook page in excitement.

But things quickly took a turn when the HOA demanded the removal of the garden after saying it didn't get the necessary approvals.

“It just sends the wrong message to the entire neighborhood that the neighborhood doesn't care about environmental concerns or the environmental benefits and doesn't take the flooding measures seriously,” Bussard told The Post and Courier. “It just sets a bad precedent.”

The couple proposed a front yard garden to the HOA which was approved by Dean Monk, chairman of the HOA’s Architectural Control Committee, but received contradictory news from a property manager spokesperson the next day, according to The Post and Courier,

They were told rain gardens can look unkempt and landscaping can become messy over time.

FIGHTING BACK

After much back and forth, the couple went ahead and dug the 200 square-foot flowerbeds, citing that neighborhood guidelines encourage planting anything under 36 inches in height.

Soon after, they were notified that the rain garden needed HOA approval, putting an official halt on their garden.

They submitted another application, were quickly denied, and even appealed, reported The Post and Courier, who said the couple received mixed votes from members of their board for their request to build the garden.

“The concern was not about practicality and stormwater management,” Katy Calloway, a resident of the Ocean Neighbors community and member of the HOA Board of Directors, told The Post and Courier.

“The concern is that the Bussards’ yard is at the front of the neighborhood, and people see it, and they don’t think it’s pretty," she said.

The Bussards challenged the department, arguing that the garden "definitely helped alleviate flooding issues."

“This is for the good of the community," Craig Bussard told The Post and Courier.

"It seems like there are some misunderstandings between (the property manager), the board, and the (Architectural Control Committee), but let’s try to work this out and be adults."

The HOA gave them until February 27 to remove their rain garden, but the couple refused and instead, took to Facebook in a last-ditch effort, counting on community support.

They reportedly received a slew of signatures from residents in a petition advocating for their right to keep the garden.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Changes are coming to the City of Charleston’s zoning code.

The existing code affects all developments in the city: commercial and residential. However, it hasn’t been updated in more than five decades.

“Our existing zoning ordinance is many decades old, so the whole thing needs to be updated, brought into the 21st century, graphics added, make it much more user friendly,” said Christopher Morgan, planning manager for the city’s planning department.

Charleston has had the same city zoning code since 1966. Now, officials plan to make necessary changes focusing on the city’s future development.

READ MORE: "Mayor Cogswell unveils flooding mitigation plan for severe weather readiness in Charleston."

“Most of this deals with when you're expanding your business or expanding your house,” Morgan explained. “Or building a new house, new business or a new neighborhood.”

Arguably the biggest change to the zoning code is one city leaders hope helps guide new development as sea levels continue to rise. The new code will include elevation-based zoning to combat increased flooding.

It comes less than a month after Mayor William Cogswell announced a new flooding plan to increase preparation ahead of severe weather.

“What this plan is, is an effort to put in some temporary solutions to allow us to frankly live with water for a little while until we get more permanent solutions in place,” Mayor Cogswell said in a press conference on March 13.

READ MORE: "Record rainfall received in downtown Charleston and CHS on Saturday: NWS."

City officials hope these zoning changes will be one of those permanent solutions.

The updates call for less future development in areas of lower elevation or that are closer to sea level.

“There's very extensive mapping that's done in our comprehensive plan that shows the areas that have better elevation and worse elevation, and the worse elevation areas have more potential for impact by rising water,” Morgan said.

The updated code would push for higher-density development to strictly pop up in areas with better elevation. Morgan believes Charleston will be the first place to establish a city-wide elevation zoning code.

The city is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the International Longshoremen’s Association Hall on Morrison Drive to present the proposed changes and receive public feedback.

City officials don’t expect the new ordinance to reach the city council for a vote until the end of the year.

A recent editorial in The Post and Courier suggested it’s time for Charleston to start planning for what it called our eventual abandonment of the Columbus Street Terminal. We want to be clear: This does not align with our business goals, and we have no plans to sell this site.

At a time when port cities up and down the East Coast, including ours, are stepping up to handle additional business due to the Baltimore bridge tragedy, the editorial left the impression that we are lessening our commitment to our mission. Nothing could be further from the truth.

As the eighth largest port in the country, we consistently shift our operations to find creative solutions, which is exactly what we are doing with Columbus Street Terminal.

We are taking proactive steps to invest in infrastructure to strengthen our resiliency against rising sea levels and severe weather events. We are all learning to live with water in Charleston. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise.

The S.C. Ports Authority is a critical supply chain partner to our state’s automotive industry and has been for decades.

Since 2011, we have expertly handled nearly 3 million vehicles at Columbus Street Terminal for global automakers. We moved more than 200,000 vehicles last year alone. We are constantly evaluating our operations and infrastructure to ensure our shippers’ businesses succeed.

We have invested in modernizing the terminal over the years, including enhanced rail connections and raising the terminal’s height to better support the automotive sector’s supply chain. The automotive industry growth in our state was the catalyst for opening our first rail-served inland port in Greer.

Our many port investments have helped to facilitate South Carolina’s unmatched success in the nation as the top exporter of both vehicles and tires.

And we will always evaluate port infrastructure to best support port-dependent businesses and create jobs for South Carolinians, while also working alongside the communities and municipalities in which we reside.

As you have seen throughout the very public Union Pier process and pending sale to Charleston businessman Ben Navarro, we take our commitment to the Charleston community very seriously. We have demonstrated that we will work alongside the city of Charleston as our future needs present themselves and in a way that is mutually beneficial.

And that is exactly what our investment into Columbus Street Terminal is about: strengthening resiliency and planning for the future. That’s something to celebrate about one of our most critical assets.

Barbara Melvin is president and CEO of SC Ports, and Bill Stern is its board chair.