Claude Frey, a resident of Saint-Vit in Doubs, never returned from his last daily walk. Since Wednesday, November 27, his family has been looking for him. A new hunt is organized this Saturday, November 30.
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When she talks about her father, Nathalie Frey oscillates between the present and the past: “He is a kind, wonderful person, who loves animals and who always leaves with his bread to go and feed the animals” she describes. Since Wednesday November 27, Claude Frey, 88 years old, has been missing.
That day, this retiree from Saint-Vit, in Doubs, did not return from his daily walk: “he went for a walk around 12:15 p.m., like every day and two hours later, his wife started to worry” says Damien Bradel, his son-in-law.
A child and his father would have seen the retiree on a bench, near the Belle Époque car park, towards Besançon. This is where a new hunt, organized by the family, was to start this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
“His passion is walking”explains her daughter. Despite his age, this father of 4 children and grandfather of 10 grandchildren went for walks almost every day. “He has the ability to walk 10 kilometers,”reports Nathalie Frey, “he goes at his own pace”.
An endurance which makes his family fear that the searches of the police, which rather focused on the sector of the woods of Pouilley-Français, were not broad enough: “I think it could be much further”explains her daughter, “He would be able to walk 15 to 20 kilometers if he were lost.”
This Saturday, November 30, a new hunt was organized by the family of Claude Frey, to try to find him
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© Clément Jeannin / France Télévisions
We would like to ask residents around Saint-Vit and within a radius of 15 to 30 km to look in their garden shed, around their home, if there is anyone
Damien Bradel, stepson of Claude Frey
Claude Frey has suffered from cognitive disorders for several years: “he has immediate memory loss, which is less good” describes his stepson. “People with cognitive impairments may very well return on their place of birth, he was able to say that he lives in Baume-les-Dames rather than in La Combe Verte in Saint-Vit..
“Be at peace”
If it was again from the parking lot where he was last seen that the hunt organized by the family left this Saturday afternoon, the idea was to widen the search perimeter: “we called on all our friends, particularly the sports, mountain bike and trail runner networks, to look for him.”
It was in an outfit like this, with the same jacket and the same multi-colored hat, that Claude Frey went for a walk this Wednesday, November 27
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© Frey Family
Nearly 72 hours after his disappearance, the family has few illusions: “Until then, we were hoping to find him alive, even if we are clear about his chances, he was thin,” reports Nathalie Frey, “But even if he is dead, it is important to find him to mourn.” “He was old, we knew we were going to lose him, but we want to find him and say goodbye to him so we can be at peace” adds, moved, her daughter.
