Found safe: 73-year-old New Bedford man with autism was missing from Fairhaven

Mar. 18—FAIRHAVEN — Kenneth Parks, 73, who wandered away from his day group on Wednesday afternoon in Cushman Park was found safe Thursday — almost 22 hours after he was reported missing.

Parks was found on Chestnut Street near the former Rogers School, Fairhaven Police confirmed. "He seems to be OK," police said of his condition. Parks was found sitting in a car parked in a residential driveway near the school.

Police reported that Parks, who lives in a residential group home in New Bedford, was walking with a group Wednesday afternoon around 2 p.m. at Cushman Park. He apparently wandered away from the group and hadn't been seen since.

The all our search for Parks included the Fairhaven, Acushnet, and Mattapoisett Police Departments, Fairhaven Fire Department and call firefighters, Fairhaven Harbormaster, New Bedford Police Department Marine Unit, Bristol County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit, SEMLEC Search & Rescue, SEMLEC Mobile Command Center, SEMLEC Dive Team, SEMLEC Bicycle Unit, Mass State Police Special Emergency Response Team, Mass State Police Air Wing, Mass Environmental Police and the Department of Conservation & Recreation.

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