Orange County authorities seek help locating missing 60-year-old man

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help to locate a 60-year-old Efland man who was last seen in late February.

According to investigators, Thomas Jeffrey Searle, of 2311 Bushy Cook Road, was last seen by a neighbor at about 5 a.m. on Feb. 24. He told the neighbor he was going on vacation. 

Searle had been planning a trip to Pennsylvania before he disappeared, authorities said, but it was unclear where he may have gone. He may be traveling in a black 1993 Chevrolet S-10 with North Carolina license tag ZXB3784.

The North Carolina Center for Missing Persons issued a Silver Alert for Searle at 8 p.m. March 6, and Orange County authorities said he may be suffering from a cognitive impairment. 

Searle stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has short brown hair and gray eyes. When he disappeared, he was wearing a tan shirt and blue jeans.

Orange County officials said Searle has previously suffered a stroke and a brain aneurism and is often confused. 

No other information about Searle's disappearance was released.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the Orange County Sheriff's Office at 919-644-3050.