Missing DeKalb County man with dementia found safe, police say

Summary by The Atlanta Editorial Desk · Based on reporting from Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News · July 24, 2026 · 1 min read

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A missing man diagnosed with dementia has been found safe, according to DeKalb County police. Steve Chang, 77, was previously last seen on July 22, leaving Emory Decatur Hospital and possibly getting on MARTA. Anyone who knew Chang’s whereabouts was asked to ca...

Why this matters in The Atlanta

The search for Steve Chang, a 77-year-old man with dementia, puts a spotlight on the challenges of ensuring public safety in the Atlanta area, particularly for vulnerable populations. DeKalb County police are relying on the community to help locate Chang, who was last seen leaving Emory Decatur Hospital and may have used MARTA, a transit system used by thousands of residents daily. The fact that Chang was able to leave the hospital and potentially board public transportation raises questions about the measures in place to protect individuals with dementia and other cognitive impairments. As the investigation continues, it will be crucial to examine the protocols used by local healthcare facilities and transportation agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the safety of all residents, especially those who may be more susceptible to getting lost or disoriented.

About this story

Original reporting by Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News. The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: safety · Published: July 24, 2026 · Source: Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News · Reading time: 1 min

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Summary created by	The Atlanta Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Atlanta News First (WANF CBS) - News
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 24, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 24, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Missing DeKalb County man with dementia found safe, police say

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