Missing Virginia Beach man possibly spotted in Franklin

Published 2:16 pm Friday, January 19, 2024

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The Virginia State Police has issued a Critically Missing Adult Alert in reference to a man who may have been spotted on Armory Drive in Franklin on Friday morning, Jan. 19.

The Critically Missing Adult Alert, issued Jan. 19 at 12:45 p.m. on behalf of the Virginia Beach Police Department, stated that the VBPD was looking for 79-year-old Benjamin Tellez, who was described as a white male, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 215 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.

He was last seen on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m. leaving his residence on Slalom Drive in Virginia Beach. He was last seen wearing black sweatpants and a black shirt. 

He is possibly driving a green 2012 Toyota Camry displaying the following Virginia plates: WMR4552. 

The vehicle was last seen on a Flock camera on Armory Drive in Franklin at around 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19.

This disappearance poses a credible threat to Tellez’s health and safety as determined by the investigating agency.

The release concluded by encouraging anyone with information regarding Tellez’s whereabouts to contact the Virginia Beach Police Department, which has 24/7 dispatch, at 757-385-9377.

For more information, visit https://vsp.virginia.gov/active-alerts/.