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Missing Maynard Woman Betty Thorndike Seen In New York

BOSTON (CBS) – Police continue asking for the public's help finding missing Maynard woman Betty Thorndike after authorities said she was seen early Monday morning in New York.

Police shared new photos of Thorndike, who has memory impairment.

On Saturday, she was supposed to drive from Maynard to Plymouth, but she was spotted in Connecticut on Sunday. She was last seen on Bay Street in Staten Island, New York leaving the Speedway gas station at 3 a.m. Monday.

As she headed out Saturday, Betty stopped to ask a Maynard police officer for directions. He later called her intended destination to check up on her and learned she hadn't made it.

 

Pictures from surveillance video show Betty wearing a purple shirt, denim capri pants, converse sneakers, and a thin gold necklace.

Police have been tracking her debit card purchases because she does not have a cell phone. The debit card transactions don't appear in real-time though.

"We're chasing her, we found out where she's been not where she's going," said Maynard Police Chief Michael Noble.

"She doesn't like driving on the highway so she's going backroads that's clear just based on the pattern on where she is and the timeline," said Det. Trista Manchuso.

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Betty Thorndike. (Image Credit: Maynard Police)

She is driving a gray Honda Accord.

"We believe that she's just trying to find her way home and she's way off," said Betty's son Bruce Thorndike. "We think she was overwhelmed and stressed and she cracked a little bit here."

He added, "She's told people that she's going home, she's trying to find home...We're worried about her, she's very vulnerable and she just wants to get home."

Betty moved into an assisted living center in Maynard a few weeks ago after spending 15 years in Plymouth.

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