Woodbridge Man, 87, Found Safe in Rhode Island After Leaving Senior Living Facility
Russell Whitman, 87, left Charter Senior Living on Amity Road on the evening of March 11 and was located in Rhode Island approximately 21 hours later
PublishedMarch 14, 2026
Whitman was located in Rhode Island
Woodbridge Silver Alert Canceled After 87-Year-Old Found Safe in Rhode Island
An 87-year-old man who left a Woodbridge assisted living facility without his medication on the evening of March 11, 2026, was located by police in Rhode Island the following day, approximately 21 hours after his departure.
Russell Whitman was a resident of Charter Senior Living of Woodbridge, located at 330 Amity Road. He was last seen leaving the facility at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, driving a gray 2025 Hyundai Elantra with Connecticut registration BV96759. Woodbridge police issued a Silver Alert and a public appeal after the facility reported him missing on Wednesday, March 12, around 4 p.m.
Whitman was located in Rhode Island. Police canceled the Silver Alert after confirming his safe recovery. No injuries were reported.
Whitman Left Without Medication, Used Mobility Aids
Staff at Charter Senior Living reported Whitman left "without taking his much-needed medication," according to the Hartford Courant. Woodbridge police noted that Whitman required a cane and walker for mobility.
The facility reported him missing roughly 21 hours after his departure — indicating his absence was not initially detected at the time he left Tuesday evening. Police issued the Silver Alert after the report was received Wednesday afternoon.
By the time he was located, Whitman had traveled out of Connecticut entirely, with tracking placing him in the area between Canton, Massachusetts, and Rye, New Hampshire, before he was ultimately found in Rhode Island.
What Is a Silver Alert?
Connecticut's Silver Alert program is administered by the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. It functions similarly to an Amber Alert but is designed specifically for elderly individuals, particularly those with cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer's or dementia, who go missing.
When a Silver Alert is activated, law enforcement disseminates the missing person's description, photo when available, and vehicle information through media outlets, digital highway signs, and law enforcement networks. The program is intended to mobilize public assistance in locating vulnerable elderly individuals.
The alert for Whitman was canceled by Woodbridge police after his recovery in Rhode Island.
Charter Senior Living of Woodbridge
Charter Senior Living of Woodbridge is an assisted living and memory care facility located on Amity Road in Woodbridge. It serves older adults in the greater New Haven area who require varying levels of daily support, including residents with mobility limitations and medical needs.
Connecticut's assisted living regulations set standards for care, staffing, and emergency response, but do not universally restrict driving by residents. Whether a resident may drive is typically determined by their individual care plan and family or medical input.
Woodbridge Police Department has not released additional information about the circumstances of the search or how Whitman was ultimately located in Rhode Island. No statement from Charter Senior Living was publicly available as of publication.
