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Family Of Dead Woman Advocates Alert System For Missing Elderly

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Jason Odra

Published: March 5, 2008

The family of Mary Zelter, an 86-year-old Largo widow whose body was found Monday night floating in the Intracoastal Waterway, is thanking law enforcement, friends, media and dozens of volunteers who helped pass out flyers.

In a statement from daughter Mary Lallucci, the family stressed the importance of pursuing legislation that would bring a "Silver Alert" system to Florida.

"Regardless of the exact circumstances of my mom's death, there is no question that her disappearance has brought needed attention to the need for Florida to join the eight other states with Silver Alert procedures.

"We have no way yet of knowing whether it would have helped my mom, but there's no question that in a state with as many senior citizens as ours, the ability to rapidly alert law enforcement and citizens of a missing senior is essential.

"I hope the state will move quickly to adopt these procedures and that some positive benefit can come from this family's tragedy."

Zelter, who lived at the Regal Palms Assisted Living Facility in Largo, vanished after buying groceries at an Albertsons store about 1 p.m., a half-hour after she left the assisted living facility last Tuesday, police said.

Her body and vehicle were found about nine miles away.

The family believes Zelter's death was not the result of a criminal act. Because her body was found in Clearwater, the police department is conducting the death investigation.

Zelter moved in to the facility from Venice about four months ago, after the death of her husband, family members said.

She suffered from dementia and high blood pressure, but she was alert, family members said. At Regal Palms Assisted Living Facility, parameters are set up for residents, depending on their physical abilities, and Zelter was free to come and go as she wished and was allowed to use her car, police said.

The family has set up the Highland Hospital Foundation in honor of Zelter at 1000 South Ave., Box 40, Rochester, NY 14620.

Information from The Tampa Tribune archives was used in this report.

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