Police have cut back the search for missing Childers man

Police have revealed the next steps in the case of an 82-year-old man who went missing more than a week ago after he walked out of an aged care home.

After more than a week of searching, the search has been scaled back for an 82-year-old man who walked out of a Childers aged care home more than a week ago.

Police are still urging anyone with information to contact the police.
Earlier, police were focusing on a 5km radius of Childers as they continued their desperate search for Peter Hodgins.

Mr Hodgins was last seen leaving an aged care facility on Morgan St in Childers about 6.45pm on Sunday, May 19.

He was heading south towards Broadhurst St, wearing a blue polo shirt, jeans, brown shoes and a dark coloured coat.

Police had thought Mr Hodgins may be in the Townsville area, or attempting to travel there, but issued more information on May 23 that they were also still focusing on the Childers search.

Police were looking at the sides of the Isis Hwy and Bundaberg Hwy in the Childers area.

Investigators have released a new CCTV image of Peter Hodgins, who was last seen leaving an address along Morgan Street, Childers around 6.45pm, heading south towards Broadhurst Street.

Bundaberg Chief Inspector Grant Marcus appealed for residents within a 5km radius of the Childers township to search their properties again.

“In addition to searching homes and businesses, please also pay attention to anything that could be used as a shelter like carports or sheds,” he said.

“I’d also like to remind motorists and truck drivers travelling the Bruce or Isis Highways in the vicinity of Childers to be on the lookout.

“If you locate anything of interest, please contact police.

“We’re grateful for the community’s help and corporation during the search.”

The sound of choppers have permeated the township for days and the SES volunteers, QRAT aerial drone support, QFES and QPS trail had all joined the search.

Community members in Childers have become extremely invested in finding the missing man who suffers from dementia and may be confused or disoriented.

Photographs of Mr Hodgins have appeared in pubs and cafes as the town comes together in the effort to find him.

Peter Hodgins.

Federal Hotel worker Sheri Freckleton said she had refreshed social media community pages regularly trying to stay updated on the search.

Tiny’s Bar and Grill’s Deanna Kerr said it had shaken the community and colleague Jasmine Bennett said people had visited with flyers of the missing man.

“Even coming in for takeaway that’s the main thing people are talking about,” Ms Bennett said.

Helicopters were sighted over Childers again on Wednesday as the police search continued.

Police had focused their search on the area around the aged care facility.

Bundaberg Police Chief Inspector Grant Marcus said police received information late Monday afternoon that Mr Hodgins had possibly been spotted on Thompson Rd in Childers.

Police are appealing for Childers residents to check their yards and buildings for Mr Hodgins.

Mr Hodgins is described as caucasian, about 180cm tall with a slim build, hazel eyes and brown hair.
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Originally published as Police have cut back the search for missing Childers man