This Richmond family’s story shows the power of community and a program that’s helping families across Fort Bend County stay connected.
RICHMOND, Texas — A Fort Bend County family says a late-night scare ended in a miracle after their adult son with severe autism wandered away from home and was quickly reunited with them thanks to a good neighbor, fast-acting deputies and a lifesaving program called Take Me Home.
Brady, 20, is nonverbal and requires round-the-clock care. His parents, Dana and Guy Walker, said they’ve taken every precaution to keep him safe, including multiple locks and tracking devices. But earlier this month, Brady managed to slip out in the middle of the night without them realizing it.
When deputies knocked on their door around 2 a.m., the Walkers were stunned.
“The door was wide open, the sheriff deputy was standing there and I can read between the lines,” Guy Walker said. “She told us Brady was OK, and that they were able to find our home and identify him through the Take Me Home program.”
That quick identification was possible because the family had enrolled Brady in Take Me Home, a secure, voluntary registry used by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office. It’s designed to help officers identify and safely return individuals with cognitive disabilities who may be unable to communicate or identify themselves if found alone.
Brady had wandered into a neighbor’s garage just down the street. Alec Denobrega, who lives nearby, was startled at first but quickly realized something was wrong.
“I saw the look in his eyes, it looked sad, so I thought maybe he was hurt,” Denobrega said.
He immediately called 911. Deputies responded within minutes, and when they realized Brady couldn’t speak, they used his physical description to search the Take Me Home database from their patrol unit. Within moments, they were able to confirm his identity and reunite him with his family.
“Our goal is to get individuals home quickly and safely without causing more trauma,” said Sgt. Matthew Hricko, who oversees the program. “When it works like this, it makes you feel great. I just want to help and get more people signed up.”
The Walkers say they’re incredibly thankful not just to deputies but to Denobrega, who spotted Brady and made the call.
“Words can’t describe how grateful we are,” Guy Walker said.
They’re now urging other families with loved ones who have special needs to sign up for the program.
“We needed to make sure the sheriff’s office could find us and bring him home,” said Dana Walker. “Sign up for the program, it’s going to protect your kid.”
As of now, just over 300 people are registered in the Take Me Home system across Fort Bend County. But with over 500 officers trained and equipped to access the database, officials are encouraging more families to enroll.
The Take Me Home program is free, confidential and open to Fort Bend County residents with cognitive disabilities, including autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome. To learn more or to enroll a loved one, click here.
For Harris County residents, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office also offers the free program.