UPDATE:
New video released shows the emotional moment a missing man’s wife saw him for the first time at the hospital after he was found alive in the Buckingham Preserve.
Watch the moment Joceli Coutinho is reunited with his wife after he went missing:
79-year-old Joceli Coutinho, who has Parkinson's dementia, went missing on Tuesday for nearly 24 hours. The Lee County Sheriff's Office later found him deep in the preserve.
Coutinho’s family says he is doing okay, is responsive, and continues to recover.
Coutinho speaks Portugese, his family said he told them, “God is good and had mercy on me.”
According to LCSO, Coutinho was found by K-9 Remington, who picked up his scent and led deputies to his location.
The family says they are overwhelmed with gratitude and thanked the community and first responders for their help and support throughout the search.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A 79-year-old man with Parkinson's disease and dementia, who went missing Wednesday afternoon, was found alive Thursday at Buckingham Trails Preserve.
Joceli Coutinho was found by the Lee County Sheriff's Office after an extensive search lasting nearly 24 hours. He was found in the brush behind Agape Christian Fellowship.
Watch Fox 4's Allie Kaiser share the moment Joceli Coutinho was placed in an ambulance after being found:
"He is doing okay, he's responsive, he is in a little bit like shock. He was shaking a little bit," said Thomas Mafra, Coutinho's grandson.
The family's concerns grew as time passed, not only because of the cold weather, but also because Coutinho hadn't taken his medication since going missing.
"We were expecting the worst, especially at night, you know, he has hallucinations if he doesn't take it," Mafra said.
Mafra received the good news through a voice message in Portuguese from his aunt, who said, "They found Dad. Thank God."
Video from the Lee County Sheriff's Office shows the moment Coutinho was located. The discovery was not made by a deputy; it was made by K9 Remington.
"Without them, we would have never found him," Mafra said.
The family remains uncertain about how or why Coutinho ended up at the preserve.
"Where he was found, I think, is like five minutes away, like from the church to his house," Mafra said.
Coutinho was transported by ambulance and is recovering. His family expressed immense relief and gratitude to the community for their support during the search.
"It's just a huge relief, and I just want to say thank you to the whole community, really," Mafra said.
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Update: Thursday, January 29th, 2026
The Lee County Sheriff's Office says 79-year-old Joceli Coutinho has been found alive in the Buckingham Trails Preserve and is being checked out by EMS.
You can watch the rescue here, including K9 Remington's efforts in finding Coutinho:
Watch the moments after crews find missing man alive in Buckingham Trails Preserve:
Update: Thursday, January 29th, 2026
Investigators are searching Buckingham Trails Preserve for 79-year-old Joceli Coutinho.
Original Reporting:
The Lee County Sheriff's Office is asking for your help finding an endangered 79-year-old man last seen in the Buckingham area on Wednesday afternoon.
The Sheriff's Office said Joceli Coutinho was last seen around 12:30 p.m. near near Buckingham Road and Ada Avenue.
"Joceli is a loving husband, father, grandfather, and most importantly, a good person," said Sue Gallego, Coutinho's granddaughter. "He is deeply loved by many in the community and means so much to our family. We are asking for your help, support, and prayers to help locate him."
Coutinho is 5 foot 3 inches and weighs 175 pounds, the Sheriff's Office said. He has gray hair and brown eyes.
Coutinho was last seen wearing a white striped jacket and blue pants, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Gallego told Fox 4 that Coutinho has Parkinson’s and only speaks Portuguese.
If you have any information, the Sheriff's Office asks you to call 239-477-1000, or SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
