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Knox County deputies still searching for missing man

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 john_preston

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) - The Knox County Sheriff's Office is still asking for your help to find a missing elderly man with medical problems.

Deputies say John Preston, 78, left his home at 1140 Venice Road in West Knox County at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday and has not been seen since.

"He started at the doctor's office and they were able to tell us that everything seemed okay and he's on video leaving the bank. His last errand and again, everything appearing as it should've been but then he didn't make it home about four miles away,"
said Preston's daughter, Betsy Preston.

Family members are concerned because he is diabetic and has cardiac issues.

"We believe that whatever's happened most likely was a medical incident and that he either stopped at a parking lot or has driven off the road at an obscure place that hasn't been found yet,"
said Preston.

The Preston's church, Farragut Presbyterian Church, has been leading a number of searches along with KCSO investigators.

"There has to be a trace of the car somewhere. Unfortunately he did not have his cell phone on him that day so we're looking for other ways to try and find the car,"
said his daughter.

Ms. Preston saying investigators are now expanding their search and considering her dad may have had a moment of confusion and traveled to an old home or out of state,

"It just seems impossible that at 11 o'clock in the morning somebody didn't see something."

Now the family is asking all of East Tennessee to be on the look out for Mr. Preston's car,

"How has he so completely disappeared?"

Preston is 6 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds. He has silver hair, a thin build and wears glasses. He was last seen wearing a yellow shirt and dark pants.

He was driving a tan 2010 Chevrolet Equinox with Tennessee license plate 208-MWV.

Anyone with information should call KCSO at (865) 215-2243.