Betty Counts

According to Katu.com, (KATU) — Prineville police are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 83-year-old woman. She was last seen in Ephrata, Washington, and she may be near Moscow, Idaho. Betty Counts is described as a white woman who is approximately 5’6″ tall and 165 pounds. She has grey hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing shorts. Counts drives a white Infiniti EX3, with Oregon License Plate 873MNT. Prineville authorities say Counts’ husband contacted them on Sunday morning, July 4, 2021, to report her as missing. He told police she left their home Saturday morning, July 3, 2021, after a minor argument. Police say Counts had previously mentioned possibly visiting a friend in Eugene, Oregon, but prior to leaving said she may visit her granddaughter in Kennewick, Washington. Furthermore, Counts had also mentioned visiting a family member in Montana. Authorities say Counts has not been diagnosed with dementia, “but does forget things sometimes and may have early onset of dementia.” Two hours after taking the missing person report on Sunday, police spoke with Counts’ husband again, who told authorities that he was able to speak with her over the phone. At the time, she said she was in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho and at some point got turned around while looking for a gas station before returning home. During that conversation, her husband encouraged her to call 911, but she reportedly didn’t think she needed help. When he asked her for a landmark, authorities say she saw a sign that said, “Moscow this way.” Prineville police say no one has heard from Counts since that Sunday phone call around 9:30 a.m. Authorities say the Ephrata Police Department reportedly received a 911 call from Counts on Sunday at about 1:03a. It was reported that she was in a “white fusion in the US Bank parking lot and she was lost.” She claimed she was trying to get home but didn’t know her address. Police say Counts was offered a room to stay in for the night, but she refused and instead asked how to get to I-90. Ephrata officers reported that she left, heading south out of town. Prineville police said Counts’ phone has been off for the majority of the day. They are working with the FBI in an effort to determine her path based on the last time she made contact. If you see Counts or her vehicle, call the police immediately.