Myrtle Polk was last seen June 8 driving a 2004 black Lexus.
DALLAS — It has been more than three weeks, and the Polk family has more questions than answers.
His mother, 88-year-old Myrtle Polk, is in the early stages of dementia and has been missing since June 8. Myrtle Polk is a former Dallas ISD teacher and administrator. She’s also been active in her church for more than 40 years.
“My mom, to say she is a pillar in the community may sound cliché, but I don’t know any other accurate description other than she is Mama Polk to everyone,” said Philip. “The day she was last seen was Saturday, the 8th, sitting on her front porch as someone cut her yard.”
Her family said cameras also spotted her driving a 2004 Black Lexus toward her Oak Cliff home that day.
“That Saturday, she spoke with someone on the phone that evening from the home. That was the last person that we know of that spoke to her,” said Nora Polk, Philip Polk’s wife.
The family told WFAA no one has seen her car either.
“The car hasn’t been seen since the 8th, which has really been perplexing because there’s not far you can go before your car is picked up by a flock camera,” said Nora.
Law enforcement and community members have been helping in the search. Some have even reported sightings of her.
Philip said the most recent sighting was Tuesday. A woman told the family she saw Polk in Cedar Hill at a Bank of America lot near 67 South and Belt Line Road.
“The person who saw her in Cedar Hill made mention of the fact that my mom said to them that she was tired of people taking her stuff,” said Philip Polk.
He said when the woman went inside the bank for help, Myrtle Polk walked away.
WFAA reached out to the woman who said she saw Polk, but she was not available; however, the Polk family said others saw her at that location too.
“At this point, we’re not operating on the assumption that she’s in her car because after 30 days, she may not be. While we want people to keep looking for the car, we also want people to be mindful of the fact that she may be on foot,” said Philip Polk.
Sightings like these are more than just clues. They are hope.
“The impact of it feels greater because…because it’s been so long,” said Philip Polk. “Every time someone says I think I saw, instantly, it gives us fuel and energy to move forward.”
For this family, giving up is certainly no option.
“Faith, quite frankly because some days, that is all we have,” said Philip Polk. “The number of people who not only are willing to help but willing to stay engaged for 30 days, that lets me know what my mom not only means to us, but it lets us know what she means to the community.”
Although the silver alert for Polk has been cancelled, Dallas police said this is still very much an active investigation. They said they’ve brought in additional resources like the Special Investigations Unit to help in the search.
The Polk family is asking anyone who sees Polk to immediately call police and take a picture. They said the picture will help in verifying sightings and gives an update on her appearance.
Anyone with information on Ms. Polk’s whereabouts is asked to email findmyrtlepolk@gmail.com or call (469) 730-4866.