A community alert issued Monday morning for a missing vulnerable adult in Bellingham had a welcome resolution: Daniel Weatherby, 79, was found safe and sound by 12:37 p.m., according to Bellingham Police. The Silver Alert had been issued after Mr. Weatherby was last seen at the Cordata WTA Station at 7:05 a.m. on Monday, June 15, 2026.
Mr. Weatherby was described as a bald man with blue eyes, standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds. He was wearing a red and black checkered flannel shirt and jeans. Authorities noted that he had a medical condition requiring medication and was traveling on foot with no cell phone or vehicle, making the search especially time-sensitive.
The Cordata neighborhood, where Mr. Weatherby was last seen, is one of Bellingham's largest residential areas and serves as a major hub for Whatcom Transportation Authority bus routes. The Cordata Station connects numerous routes serving the north end of Bellingham, meaning Mr. Weatherby could have traveled in multiple directions after being last spotted there.
Bellingham Police posted the alert on social media Monday morning, sharing a Silver Alert flyer and asking community members to look for Mr. Weatherby and call 911 if they spotted him. Residents were asked to reserve comments only for actual sightings or relevant information, a standard request during active missing person cases to keep communication channels clear for investigators.
Silver Alerts in Washington state are issued for missing adults who are 18 or older and have a proven mental or physical disability. They function similarly to Amber Alerts, mobilizing public attention quickly through social media, digital road signs, and local news to maximize the chances of a rapid find. In this case, the community response worked: within roughly five and a half hours of the last known sighting, Mr. Weatherby was located and confirmed to be in good health.
Bellingham Police's update at 12:37 p.m. expressed gratitude to everyone who shared the post and looked for the missing man. The department's quick public communication and community engagement were credited with helping bring the situation to a safe conclusion in a relatively short time.
Missing vulnerable adults represent one of the most urgent categories of search activity for local law enforcement. The combination of no cell phone, a medical condition requiring medication, and Bellingham's often variable June weather created a scenario where every hour mattered. Bellingham saw a partly sunny but mild day on Monday, which likely helped limit exposure risk.
Residents who want to stay prepared to respond to future alerts in Whatcom County can sign up for WhatcomReady, the county's emergency alert notification system. Anyone who sees a vulnerable adult in distress or who appears lost is encouraged to call 911 and stay nearby until help arrives.
