Silver Alert canceled, missing 82-year-old in Giles County found safe

UPDATE (8/17/24): The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Saturday morning that Caulyne Cross was found safe following a days-long search effort.

Giles County Emergency Services shared a statement on Saturday, Aug. 17 about Cross' discovery, signed by Giles County Sheriff Kyle Helton, Tennessee Highway Patrol Capt. Wayne Sellers, Emergency Services Director Bill Myers, Chief Josh Young with Giles County Emergency Management, Chief Jeremy Mitchell of Giles County Fire and Rescue, and EMS Chief Willow Chavez:

We are overjoyed to announce that 83-year-old Mrs. Caulyne Cross has been found alive! This incredible outcome is a testament to the power of prayer, the unwavering dedication of the Giles County community, and its statewide help brought in by years of building strong working relationships. Our county has been blessed with some of the hardest-working volunteers, both responders and citizens, who made an extraordinary effort to bring Mrs. Cross home safely.

Mr. Robert Cross spoke with Sheriff Helton and wanted to make sure that everyone who helped and prayed to bring his wife home safely knew how much he appreciated each and every volunteer who came, worked hard, and never gave up.

We would like to extend a special thank you to everyone who has come out and helped and a special group of volunteers who are part of the Christian Aid Ministries, a 100% volunteer-based Christian search and rescue group that has been a reliable partner in numerous search and rescue missions in Giles County. Their commitment and expertise have once again proven invaluable.

In the coming days, we will release a detailed report highlighting the man-hours, miles searched, and the overwhelming support from volunteers who played a crucial role in this successful rescue mission.

Thank you to everyone who prayed, volunteered, and worked tirelessly to ensure Mrs. Cross's safe return. This has been a collective effort, and we are deeply grateful for the community's outpouring of love and support.

GILES COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued a Silver Alert Tuesday night for a woman with a medical condition who went missing from Giles County.

According to authorities, 82-year-old Caulyne Cross is 5-feet 1-inch tall, weighs about 110 pounds, and has gray hair and brown eyes.

The TBI said Cross was last seen on Tuesday, Aug. 13 wearing red pants and a pink shirt, but her direction of travel was unknown. However, Giles County Emergency Services posted on Facebook just before 8:15 p.m. that Cross may be walking in the area of Powell Chapel Road and Beech Hill Road.

Officials reported Cross' medical condition may impair her ability to return safely without help.

On Wednesday, Aug. 14, Giles County Emergency Services shared more information about the extensive search efforts for Cross, saying crews had worked through the night before resuming in the morning.

Multiple agencies have been called in to help with the search, including law enforcement, emergency management, and K-9 units from Giles County, Marshall County, Williamson County, Maury County, Moore County, Bedford County, and Franklin County, as well as the TBI, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

By Wednesday night, Giles County Emergency Services said crews had searched more than 1,000 acres on foot and flown several types of aircraft over very large section of the county, adding that "an impressive army of our neighbors have been out around the clock as well."

According to officials, a staging area has been set up in a large open field just before 797 Powell Chapel Road, where all volunteers and community members who want to assist are asked to check in.

"We have been overwhelmed by the incredible support from emergency response agencies throughout Middle Tennessee and the outpouring of assistance from the community. The dedication and willingness to help have been truly inspiring," Giles County Emergency Services said in a statement posted on Thursday, Aug. 15. "Today, we are encouraging any volunteers who wish to bring ATVs, UTVs, or horses to assist in the search. It is imperative that all volunteers report to the staging area, check-in, and be assigned a specific location to search."

Officials said a large group of people on horseback would be sent out at 6 p.m. Thursday from the intersection of Access Road and Beech Hill Road. Anyone who wanted to take part in that part of the operation was asked to park at Access Road in time for a 5:45 p.m. briefing.

On Friday, Aug. 16, Giles County Sheriff Kyle Helton said that more than 200 volunteers covered 518 miles of the search area. Helton added that the search will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and that volunteers should sign in at a staging area to be assigned a group.

"For those bringing ATVs, UTVs, or horses, please report to the church at the corner of Access Road and Beech Hill Road at 10 am," Helton said. "A representative will be present to sign everyone in and assign areas that need to be searched."

If you see Cross or have any information regarding her whereabouts, you are asked to call the Giles County Sheriff's Department at 931-363-0911 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding Cross' disappearance.