Waller County Silver Alert: Emiliano Diaz-Gonzalez, 82, Found Dead After Days-Long Search

An 82-year-old Waller County man who vanished from his home earlier this month and triggered a statewide Silver Alert has been found dead, according to Texas EquuSearch, the volunteer search-and-rescue organization that assisted in the search.

Emiliano Diaz-Gonzalez was last seen leaving his home in Waller on the morning of Sept. 4. Authorities issued a Silver Alert shortly afterward, asking the public to watch for him and report any sightings. Texas EquuSearch said Diaz-Gonzalez had severe cognitive impairment.

Three days later, on Sept. 7, Texas EquuSearch announced that Diaz-Gonzalez had been found dead. The organization did not release details about where or how he was found. In a social media post, the group called his death "a devastating loss to his family and his neighbors" and asked the public to keep his loved ones in their thoughts.

The Texas Department of Public Safety issues Silver Alerts for missing adults age 65 or older, or adults with an impaired mental condition, when law enforcement determines the person is in danger. The alerts work like Amber Alerts for missing children, sending notifications through highway signs, media outlets and law enforcement channels. Waller County authorities activated the alert for Diaz-Gonzalez within hours of his disappearance being reported.

Texas EquuSearch, based in the Houston area, has spent more than two decades organizing volunteer search efforts for missing people across the state, often working alongside law enforcement when a case involves difficult terrain or a vulnerable person who needs to be found quickly. Search teams looked for Diaz-Gonzalez over multiple days after he was last seen near his Waller home.

Diaz-Gonzalez's family has started an online fundraising campaign to help with costs following his death, according to Texas EquuSearch. The organization shared a link to the campaign so the public could support the family.

The Texas Center for the Missing, a Houston-based nonprofit, advises families and caregivers to notify local law enforcement immediately if someone with dementia or a similar condition goes missing, and to provide a recent photo along with details about where the person was last seen and what they were wearing. The organization maintains resources and a case-filing system for families dealing with a missing loved one, whether a child or an at-risk adult.

No further details about the circumstances of Diaz-Gonzalez's death have been released. Waller County officials have not issued a separate statement beyond the confirmation shared by Texas EquuSearch. The family's fundraising page remains active as they arrange for his services.