ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Ala. — Deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office are searching for a 56-year-old man who has been reported missing after he was last seen Wednesday night in the Atmore area, and authorities are asking the public for help finding him.
According to a news release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Randy Watson was last seen around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the area of Huxford Road in Atmore.
Officials said Watson has a condition that could impair his judgment, which adds urgency to the search.
Description
- Name: Randy Watson
- Age: 56
- Height: 6 feet
- Weight: 175 pounds
- Last seen wearing: A short-sleeve brown Carhartt shirt and dark-colored work pants
- Last seen: Around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Huxford Road area of Atmore
How to help
Anyone who has seen Watson or has information about where he may be is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. If you see him and believe he may be in danger, call 911 right away.
Law enforcement agencies generally advise people who spot a missing person not to try to detain or confront the person themselves. Instead, note the location, direction of travel, what the person is wearing and whether anyone is with them, and call authorities immediately. If it is safe to do so, staying nearby and keeping the person in sight until officers arrive can help.
Why the details matter
Officials have said Watson has a condition that could impair his judgment. In missing person cases like this one, that kind of detail is important because a person may not recognize that they are lost, may not respond to their name, or may not seek help on their own. Some people in these situations walk long distances or end up in places no one would expect.
That is why authorities share specific details such as clothing, height and weight. A brown Carhartt work shirt and dark work pants are the kind of practical clothing that might not stand out, so residents are encouraged to take a second look at anyone who matches the description, especially along roads, in wooded areas, near businesses or in places where someone might stop to rest.
The search area
Huxford Road is in the Atmore area of Escambia County, in a part of southwest Alabama where towns give way quickly to farmland, timberland and rural roads. Areas like this can make searches more challenging, because there are many places where a person on foot could go unseen.
Residents who live along Huxford Road and nearby roads can help by checking their property, including barns, sheds, outbuildings, carports, vehicles and wooded areas, and by reviewing footage from home security cameras, doorbell cameras or game cameras for anything from the evening of Sept. 23 onward.
Drivers traveling in and around Atmore are also encouraged to stay alert, particularly on rural roads where a person might be walking along the shoulder.
Checklist for residents near Atmore
- Look over your property, including outbuildings, sheds, barns and vehicles.
- Check security, doorbell and trail camera footage from the night of Sept. 23 and the days since.
- Watch for anyone matching Watson’s description along roadsides and in wooded or rural areas.
- Share the description with neighbors, family members and local community groups.
- If you see him, call 911 or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office right away rather than approaching him yourself.
Sharing information responsibly
Social media can be a powerful tool in missing person searches, helping descriptions reach thousands of people in a short time. When sharing information, residents are encouraged to use details released by law enforcement and to avoid spreading unconfirmed rumors, which can distract from the search.
If Watson is found, residents who shared the original post are encouraged to update or remove it so that the information circulating online stays accurate.
About the investigation
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is leading the search, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has shared information about the case. ALEA frequently helps local agencies distribute information about missing people across the state, which can widen the reach of a search beyond county lines.
No additional details about the circumstances of Watson’s disappearance have been released.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Even a small detail, such as a sighting on a particular road at a particular time, could help deputies narrow the search and bring Watson home safely.