Search continues for missing 78-year-old man in Cabarrus County

Update: The family of James Thomas Kluttz has confirmed he was found deceased.

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — The Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to locate a missing 78-year-old man reported missing Wednesday evening.

Deputies responded at 7:41 p.m. Jan. 1 to a report of a missing person at a residence in the 4100 block of Lower Stone Church Road. James Thomas Kluttz was last seen by a family member around 7:40 a.m. The family realized he was missing at about 4 p.m.

Kluttz is believed to have been wearing camouflage overalls and a red and black toboggan. He has diabetes and wears a Libre 3 insulin monitor on his arm. He is blind in his left eye and is otherwise described as physically fit.

Authorities are asking residents in the Lower Stone Church Road area and nearby neighborhoods to check exterior security cameras, trail cameras, and doorbell cameras for any footage that may show Kluttz walking or traveling through the area.

The sheriff’s office has deployed drones and its land search team and is coordinating a multi-agency response. Agencies assisting include Cabarrus County EMS, Cabarrus County Fire Marshal’s Office, Cabarrus County Squad 410, Cabarrus County Emergency Management, Rimer Volunteer Fire Department, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, which is providing helicopter support.

Anyone with information or video that may help locate Kluttz is asked to contact the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office at 704-920-3000 or call 911.