KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — The family of a Knox County man missing for more than two weeks is offering a $25,000 reward for information that helps her find her brother.
"He's a very nice man," said Maureen Dewey of California, talking about older brother Daniel Dewey, age 72.
Maureen Dewey said her brother's friends and family are contributing to the reward and she'll cover any shortage.
Dewey last was seen on March 23, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office. A Silver Alert has been issued for him.
A neighbor reported him missing March 26. He'd left behind, among other things, his glasses and identification, a report states. The neighbor feared he might have been barefoot when he left.
Maureen Dewey said it's not like her brother to just disappear. She said it's her understanding that his car was found at his Halls area home. And he left behind his dog -- his buddy -- Snoopy.
Dewey has Meniere's disease, which affects his balance, his sister said. Dewey can't walk for any length of time. He has to sit down, she said.
"I can’t see him walking away from his house very far," she told WBIR.
Dewey is an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and retired from working in the property title business. A native Californian like his sister, he ended up moving here and enjoying the East Tennessee people and lifestyle, she said.
His closest relatives in the South are two nephews who live in Atlanta, Maureen Dewey said.
Maureen Dewey said she hopes and prays that the prospect of the reward will encourage people to come forward who may have seen him. He mostly stayed at his Knox County home, she said.
As a veteran, he's received area veterans services, she said. She's hoping those who have come in contact with him through his service time or medical treatments might have an idea about his whereabouts or could help look for him.
Anyone who sees Dewey should call 911 or call 1-800-TBI-FIND with tips.
PREVIOUS STORY: Daniel Dewey hasn't been seen for weeks, and it's causing a lot of heartache for his loved ones. This past weekend, the Knox County Sheriff's Office Chief of Detectives led people who knew him through a search, hoping they'd come up with something.
Dewey's friend Barry Vest joined in.
"Sunday when we did our search, we spent about four or five hours. Very detailed... took our time. But we came up with nothing," Vest said. "Dan was so special to me. We had a very good friend relationship, but we also had a working relationship. And I feel like I owe it to the man."
Dewey is 72 years old and was last seen in Knoxville on March 23 before he disappeared. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Silver Alert recently in hopes someone out there has seen him.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office sent crews looking high and low using K-9s. It also brought in its Tracking and Drone team to search from the skies in the Halls area last week.
Those who knew Dewey said they can't believe he's not home safe.
“That's not like him to just up and leave,” said Kevin Faddis, who worked with Dewey. “I'm hoping for the best. Hopefully, he wandered off, and maybe he's in a hospital somewhere.”
A Silver Alert is used when authorities have reason to suspect a person wandered off because of dementia or a disability. His friends said Dewey struggled with several medical conditions, including PTSD.
Authorities are still looking for Dewey two weeks after he was last seen. They said they won't stop looking until he's found. Anyone who sees Dewey should call 911 or call 1-800-TBI-FIND with tips.