HENDERSON, N.C. — The family of a missing 87-year-old Henderson woman is making a plea to the public to help find her.

Authorities said Katie Poythress disappeared Oct. 9. Her family said she suffers from heart problems and high blood pressure and desperately needs medication.

Poythress' disappearance has become not only a family matter, but one for local police and the State Bureau of Investigation.

"We don't rule out foul play. That's one of the front issues," said Orlan Little, Poythress' son-in-law. "The other issue is she is 87 years old and she's had a couple of memory problems in the past, nothing significant that would generate something of this nature."

Little said Poythress' habits are easy to trace. Three of her usual spots included the Henderson Mall, Bojangles and Lowes Foods, where she was last seen.

"She basically had a ritual day. You could predict what she's going to do on that day and where she's going to go," he said. "The thing we've found unusual in the house, there was some bacon laying on the table with a grocery list. However, the house was tidy 100 percent, like she always keeps it."

Henderson police have been circulating fliers with pictures of Poythress and her light blue 1988 4-door Toyota Camry with black bumpers bearing N.C. license plate

DZL-6697

.

Police admit it is a mystery as to where she may be.

"We've used volunteer ground searchers, search-and-rescue [crews] with dogs in the area of the home," said Henderson police Chief Glen Allen. "We've used helicopters. We've used aircraft and we've not been able to locate the car."

The family is offering a $10,000 reward for her safe return.

Anyone with information about Poythress' whereabouts is asked to call the Henderson Police Department at

(252) 438-4141

.