Family seeks St James man, 81, missing for six weeks

The family of a Lower Carlton, St James pensioner is urgently appealing for assistance in locating him after six weeks without contact.

Rupert Nicholls, 81, also known as Carl, has not been seen by close family members since mid-July. Nicholls, who is partially blind due to glaucoma and possibly suffering from early-stage dementia, is described as five feet six inches tall, with grey hair and a mostly grey beard.

His disappearance has caused growing concern among his relatives. Jennifer Nicholls, Rupert’s niece, told Barbados TODAY that despite efforts to locate him, no information about his whereabouts has been found. 

“We contacted the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the mental health facility in Black Rock, and the police, but nobody seems to know where he is,” she said. “We’ve even heard conflicting reports from family members, with one distant relative suggesting he might have passed away,” she added, though no official confirmation has been provided.

Tensions within the family have heightened, particularly regarding the role of other relatives. According to Nicholls, Rupert lives alone in a family-owned home on 2nd Avenue, Lower Carlton, St James, and has no children. 

Nicholls, acting on her mother’s power of attorney, has tried to manage the family’s affairs but said other relatives have been evasive when asked about his condition.

“I feel maybe they may be taking advantage of him because my mother had to return to Canada, and since then, they have taken over. They don’t give us any information,” she explained. “We just need to know where he is, just that he’s in good hands. If they’re taking excellent care of him, then we’ll deal with that.”

Attempts to enlist the help of law enforcement have so far proven unsuccessful, with the police allegedly dismissing the case as a “family matter”. As a result, Rupert Nicholls’s relatives are considering hiring a private investigator to uncover the truth.

The family is also making a public plea for any information that could lead to Rupert’s whereabouts.

 “We are all getting older too, and we need to be treated with some kind of dignity,” Jennifer Nicholls said, expressing hope for a resolution soon.

Anyone with information about Rupert Nicholls is urged to contact the family or the police as they continue their search for answers and reassurance of his safety. (LG)