Missing woman returns home unharmed

Deepa Bharath

An 82-year-old Costa Mesa woman, who was missing since Wednesday

afternoon returned home safely in a cab Thursday night, police said.

Betty Priest Decker, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a year and

a half ago, walked through her front door close to 10 p.m. just as

her husband and children were getting ready to watch a television

news report about her disappearance, said her daughter Joni Peterka.

“We are absolutely thrilled and relieved to have her back,”

Peterka said.

Decker left her home on Canyon Drive Wednesday to go to the Ralphs

supermarket on Hamilton Street and then get a haircut Fantastic Sams

on 19th Street and Newport Boulevard, Peterka said. Family members

said that Deckerwent over the route with her husband before driving

away in a white 1990 Oldsmobile car.

But hours later, they learned Decker didn’t buy the groceries or

get a haircut. Her checks were unused and her credit card accounts

had not been activated.

At about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Decker walked into the Home Depot

at the intersection of Goldenwest Street and Edinger Avenue appearing

disoriented, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Don Holford said.

“The store employees called a cab for her,” he said.

Decker was able to direct the cab driver home, Holford said.

“She appeared to be fine and in good health,” he said.

For 30 hours, all Decker did was “drive and drive,” Peterka said.

“She never ate, never slept, didn’t have anything to drink” she

said. “She was just going and going, trying to find her way back

home. She’d filled gas a couple of times. She finally got tired and

stopped at the Home Depot.”

Decker drove on freeways, something her family never allowed her

to do because of her age, Peterka said.

The family is also looking to get Decker an identifying bracelet

from the Alzheimer’s Assn.

“We’re also going to get her to not drive any more,” Peterka said.

“But, for now, we are extremely happy she’s home safe with her

family.”