4 Vulnerable Adults, 2 Caretakers Missing After Caretaker Says She’s Concerned for Their Safety

Deputies in Washington state are looking for four missing, vulnerable adults and their two caretakers, who haven’t been seen since Monday when one of the caretakers reportedly indicated concern about the safety of all six in an adult family home.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department said the four vulnerable adults “all suffer from physical and mental health conditions that require 24/7 care and supervision.”

Additionally, the department said, two of the adults are believed to be non-verbal.

The six were last seen at the Tacoma office of the state Department of Social and Health Services shortly before 3 p.m. on Monday. They were in a minivan that may have been a Chrysler and did not return to the group home in Spanaway.

“At that time, one of their caretakers reportedly expressed concerns for her safety and for the safety of the clients in her adult family home, and was looking for a place to take her clients,” the sheriff’s department said.

The sheriff’s department named all six people. The vulnerable adults are:

  • Paula Daneri, 44, white female, 5’3”, 96 lbs, gray hair, brown eyes
  • Vaiula Vaiula Jr., 59, Pacific islander male, 5’8”, 180 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes
  • Anthony Houck, 63, white male, 6’, 220 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes
  • Tooraj Aflatooni, 59, male, 5’8”, 219 lbs, gray hair, brown eyes

The caretakers:

  • Nicole Emanuel, 46, Black female, 5’1”, 215 lbs, black hair, brown eyes
  • Jessica Newkirk, 33, Black female, 4’9”, 120 lbs, black hair, brown eyes

Deputies said the group could be at some other care facility or hotel.

“Our detectives are concerned for the safety and welfare of the four vulnerable adults, as well as their two caretakers,” the department said. ” … We just want to make sure that everyone is safe and help the families to get in contact with their loved ones.”

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[Featured image: Pierce County Sheriff’s Department]