Sally Estabrook’s husband speaks out

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – It will be a difficult holiday season for the family of Sally Estabrook. A maintenance man found her body in thick brush behind a house in Julian on Wednesday.

Sally had Alzheimer’s and had been missing for two month.

“All those hours, volunteers and family members, and she was right there”, said her husband in an interview with KUSI.

Frustration and sadness now that the body of his wife, Sally, was found just half-a-mile from the Julian campsite she wondered way form in early October.

Bob had just taken a quick nap in their RV, when Sally walked away.

“My job was to be with her, and take care of her and she got away,” he said.

He added, “Certainly not what we prayed for, but at least it’s closure.”

An attempt at closure after weeks of waiting, weeks of searching by hundreds of volunteers.

It was weeks of hoping Sally would be found alive.

Bob is now looking back, to move forward.

“The things we enjoyed were walks on the beach and sitting at sunset at the beach. Obviously those memories will go on and on,” said Bob.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, six out of ten people with dementia will wander.

Bob Estabrook is calling on the caregivers of those with dementia to take full advantage of the resources available.

“You can’t wait for it to happen and then do something about it. You gotta be proactive,” he said.

Thanksgiving was hard for Bob and his family, and Christmas will be anything but joyful.

Their gifts this holiday, thoughts of the good times.

Bob Estabrook says they will have a celebration of Sally’s life in about two weeks.