Local News

New Bern Man Found Safe on Ferry

A missing 93-year-old New Bern man was found safe early Saturday in Carteret County more than a day after he was last seen leaving a Wal-Mart store.

Posted Updated
Jake Hill
RALEIGH, N.C. — A missing 93-year-old New Bern  man was found safe early Saturday in Carteret County more than a day after he was last seen leaving a Wal-Mart store.

A ferry operator in Carteret County recognized Jake Hill and his 2005 gold Chevrolet Equinox at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Hill was sitting inside his vehicle on the ferry, authorities said. The operator called police, who then picked up Hill and took him to a local hospital for a medical evaluation.

Police said Hill appeared to be in good physical health but appeared to be disoriented.

Hill had left a New Bern Wal-Mart at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday and was reported missing by his family when he never returned home.

The search for Hill expanded across North Carolina after his credit card was used early Friday at a gas station in Rocky Mount. At about noon on Friday, the card was used again at a gas station in Wake Forest and a third time at about 7:30 p.m. at a gas station in Goldsboro.

At the Wake Forest store, the sales clerk said he remembers that the man who used the credit card was trying to get directions to New Bern.

Hill does not have any reported medical conditions and is legally allowed to drive his vehicle at any time of day or night, New Bern police said

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