66-year-old cruise passenger with dementia goes missing during Royal Caribbean vacation in Mexico

Edmond Bradley Solomon III, a South Carolina resident diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, went missing while on vacation in Cozumel, Mexico with his family. Solomon, known as Brad, disappeared minutes after getting off the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Icon of the Seas. His daughter, Savanah Miller, described his erratic behavior due to the effects of the disease on his behavior. Solomon and his wife had disembarked from the ship and stopped for a restroom break, but he never emerged, leading to his disappearance.

Local authorities in Cozumel launched a search and rescue operation after Solomon was reported missing. A taxi driver claimed to have picked up a man matching Solomon’s description and dropped him off at a road with beach access. Despite search efforts, Solomon remained missing, with photos capturing the extensive search efforts unfolding in wooded areas. Solomon was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, grey shorts, dark sunglasses, and a blue hat. His necklace with GPS only works near his wife’s phone.

Miller didn’t learn about her father’s disappearance until the following morning. She and other family members planned to travel to Mexico to support her mother and assist in the search for her father. Reports of possible sightings were followed up on throughout the day by Miller and her cousins. They were advised that Solomon might be utilizing local churches to stay hydrated and use the bathroom. A GoFundMe page was created to assist the family during this difficult time and surpassed its original goal of $5,000.

Solomon and his wife, also nurses, had boarded the cruise ship in Miami, Florida and made stops in Costa Maya, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras before docking in Cozumel. Miller described her father as someone who always looked out for the people he loved and was drawn to helping others. The family is hopeful for a safe resolution to the situation and looks forward to reuniting with Solomon. Despite the distress and uncertainty surrounding Solomon’s disappearance, the family, along with local authorities, are continuing the search efforts to locate him and ensure his safety and well-being.