Confused, Elderly NW Side Couple Lost In Southwest Suburbs

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An elderly husband and wife from the Northwest Side have been reported missing and are thought to be lost and confused in the southwest suburbs after a language barrier hindered their efforts to get home.

Hector Fernandez, 80, and his wife, 85-year-old Maria De Fernandez, were last seen about 10:30 p.m. Thursday when they were stopped by a police officer near 167th and La Grange Road in the southwest suburbs, according to an alert from Chicago Police.

The couple lives in the 6300 block of North Cicero in the Forest Glen neighborhood, police said. However, because of a language barrier, they were given directions to the 6300 block of South Cicero in the Clearing neighborhood.

Police said the two are both confused and still lost in the area. Neither carries a cellphone and Hector Fernandez may be exhausted from an extended time driving.

Hector Fernandez was described as a Hispanic man who stands 5-feet and weighs 130 pounds, police said. He has brown eyes, short brown hair and medium complexion. A description and photo of Maria De Fernandez were not provided.

The two were traveling in a silver four-door Ford Fusion with Illinois license plate number ZHY936, police said.

Family members are currently searching for them along U.S. Route 45 — which goes by La Grange Road and Mannheim Road — as well as both directions of Interstate 294, police said.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call Area North detectives at (312) 744-8266.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)