Family Seeks Answers 6 Months After Man's Disappearance from Unlicensed Greensboro Facility: 'I Miss My Daddy'

Table of Contents

A Family's Struggle and Search for a Missing Elderly Relative

Six months have passed since Larry Burton, a 74-year-old man, vanished from an unlicensed care facility in Greensboro, North Carolina. His family has been left in a state of uncertainty and grief, desperately hoping for answers and the return of their loved one.

Latonya Swift, Burton’s daughter, shared her emotional journey with the media, expressing how much she misses her father. “I miss my daddy,” she said, highlighting the deep void his absence has created in their lives.

Burton was last seen at the HMF Home Care Facility, where he had only been for eight days before disappearing. Swift recalls the last conversation she had with her father on July 2, during which they were all on FaceTime, including her son, Amare, and her mother. “We were just laughing, having a good time like normal,” she explained, remembering the joy of that moment.

As the holiday season came and went, the question of where Burton was remained unanswered, casting a heavy shadow over the family. “This holiday has been very different,” Swift said. “On Black Friday, my daddy wasn’t there for us to go shopping. New Year’s, my daddy wasn’t here fixing his collard greens and his black-eyed peas. It’s just been different.”

In September, Hazel Mae Forman, a 50-year-old woman, was charged with a misdemeanor for operating the HMF Home Care Facility without a license. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and oversight of such facilities, leaving Swift questioning where the justice is for her family.

“I just want no other family to hurt like my family has had to hurt these past six months,” she said. “I can’t explain to you the length of things that I’ve had to do to get myself back to a normal baseline.”

Now, after six months of searching and waiting, Swift hopes to become an advocate for change when it comes to missing elderly people. She believes that more needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of seniors in care facilities.

Burton’s silver alert expired in October, and his information is now in a national database. This step is crucial for increasing awareness and potentially helping locate him. However, the family remains hopeful that someone might come forward with information that could lead to his safe return.

The story of Larry Burton highlights the importance of vigilance and advocacy in protecting vulnerable members of our society. As the search continues, the family remains steadfast in their hope and determination to find their loved one. Their journey serves as a reminder of the need for stronger regulations and support systems for elderly individuals in care facilities across the country.