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Family alleges patient-safety lapse at IU Health Methodist after Indianapolis man with dementia goes missing

A family search is underway for 53-year-old Gary Roberts II, last seen about 2:00 a.m. on 2026-09-04 at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis; his sister says he requires dialysis three times a week, suffers severe dementia, and that hospital staff delayed notifying family and issued an inaccurate Silver Alert.

BUSINESSINDY BRIEFBy BusinessIndy Editorial StaffSeptember 17, 2026 at 8:49 AM EDT

Gary Roberts II, 53, was last seen at approximately 2:00 a.m. on 2026-09-04 inside a locked medical unit at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. The article describes him as about 6 ft tall, 178 lbs, with sandy brown hair, blue eyes, a beard and a dragon tattoo; he was wearing a multicolored hospital gown, blue scrub pants and blue-and-white shoes.

His sister and legal guardian, Diana, told reporters Gary requires dialysis three times a week and suffers severe dementia, a cognitive learning disability and a heart condition. She alleges hospital staff did not notify her of his disappearance until about 4:00 a.m., and that the initial Silver Alert misidentified his disappearance location and some physical details; the search is ongoing and the article lists IU Health Department of Public Safety at (317) 962-8000 or 911 for tips.

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