Ruth Pettiford Miles, missing Orange County woman, sought by sheriff's deputies

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The Orange County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in searching for an 86-year-old woman who was reported missing by her family Thursday evening.

Officials say Ruth Pettiford Miles left her home on Emma B. Wright Road near Walnut Grove Church Road north of Hillsborough Thursday afternoon in a white 2019 Nissan Rogue with Carolina license plates. North indicating EMC-1535. Despite the efforts of Orange County deputies and emergency responders, she was not located.

The North Carolina Center for Missing Persons issued an endangered missing person alert for Miles early Friday morning. The alert says Miles “suffered from cognitive impairment” and was last seen around 4 p.m. Thursday. Authorities believe she may have been looking for food at an unknown location in Hillsborough.

Miles is described as a black female, 5’3″ tall and approximately 125 pounds with brown eyes and short black hair. She was last seen wearing black pants and a black and white short-sleeved shirt with a floral pattern, authorities said.

Anyone who sees Miles or has information on his whereabouts is asked to call Sgt. Keith Godwin at (919) 245-2918.