Montgomery County authorities had been on high alert as 44-year-old Jeffrey Ratnofsky, who suffers from cognitive impairment, went missing, igniting community concern and a call for public assistance in the search. Fortunately, this story has a safe conclusion. Ratnofsky, who had been the subject of an urgent search by the Montgomery County Department of Police – 1st District Investigative Section, was located unharmed, the department announced on its website, lifting the veil of worry that had settled over his friends and family.
Before he was found, details about Ratnofsky’s last known whereabouts and physical description circulated widely—a desperate attempt by the police to harness the eyes and ears of the public to bring Jeffrey home safely; thankfully, with community vigilance and investigative efforts, he was found safe and unharmed. His disappearance had initiated a Purple Alert—a specific call-to-action meant to inform the public about missing persons with cognitive or developmental disabilities, a critical tool that can make all the difference—as it did in Jeffrey’s case…