HELP FIND MISSING GRANDMOTHER ANNIE TISDALE

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: HELP FIND MISSING GRANDMOTHER ANNIE TISDALE

Date: February 18, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this urgent episode, Nancy Grace brings national attention to the disappearance of Annie Tisdale, a 78-year-old grandmother living with dementia who vanished after a routine errand in Abbeville, South Carolina. The episode features interviews with Annie’s granddaughter, Ryan Tisdale, and security expert Brian Fitzgibbons, exploring key leads and appealing to listeners and law enforcement for help. The tone is empathetic, suspenseful, and determined, emphasizing the importance of swift public action to locate Ms. Tisdale.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance: Timeline and Circumstances

• Initial Timeline (02:42–05:18):
  • Annie Tisdale left home for a restaurant. After an issue with her order, she went back out.
  • She was seen at a gas station in Abbeville, SC, purchasing a lottery ticket (unconfirmed), between 6:00–6:15 pm.
  • Subsequent sightings via license plate/camera surveillance trace her vehicle through Greenwood, SC, and then into Georgia (Elberton, Livonia), indicating she became lost and disoriented over a 10+ hour period.
  • Last confirmed vehicle sighting: "Sunday morning, 7:00 am–7:38 am going northbound towards I85" (07:05) in Livonia, Georgia.
  • Annie last wore a black polka dot dress and a cowboy hat, driving a 2015 black Toyota Tacoma (License: 331860W).

"It appears that she lost and turned around and could not figure out how to get back home."
— Dave Mack, (04:35)

2. Family Perspectives: Urgency and Annie's Dementia

• Concern from Annie's Granddaughter, Ryan Tisdale (05:52–07:43):
  • Ryan and her father are actively searching for Annie.
  • "We think that she did get lost and took a wrong turn..." (05:52)
  • The last confirmed camera sightings show only one person in the vehicle.
  • Ryan doubts Annie is still driving due to lack of sightings and the possibility of running out of gas.

"I don't believe that she's driving only because the camera hasn't picked it up. The only way we would think that she’s driving is if she had gotten more gas."
— Ryan Tisdale, (06:49)

• Dementia History & Recent Decline (10:55–12:30):
  • No formal dementia diagnosis despite failing a cognitive test; significant recent decline noted.
  • Annie has become "forgetful, unable to recall basic information, and prone to getting lost."
  • Family had been trying to arrange additional care; Annie lost 40 pounds recently and has chronic health issues.

"She cannot remember things that she should normally know. ... The map of her getting lost and driving back and forth ... is a clear indicator."
— Ryan Tisdale, (12:02)

3. The Search: Strategies and What Makes Annie’s Case Unique

• Importance of the Vehicle in the Search (07:43–10:12):
  • Security expert Brian Fitzgibbons stresses that sharing the vehicle and plate info is the key to generating leads.

"Vehicles are easier to find than people. That vehicle is going to be crucial here."
— Brian Fitzgibbons, (08:07)

• Vehicle Identification Details (09:36–10:12):

  • Disability symbol on rear plate, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Greek letters (AΦA) on the front plate.

• Cell Phone Status (10:26–10:41):

  • Annie’s phone powered off or died soon after leaving home, last pinged in Abbeville.

• Search Tactics for Dementia Cases (13:56–14:59):

  • People with dementia may hide or seek shelter nearby if separated from their vehicle.
  • Brian Fitzgibbons advises focused searches of non-obvious shelter areas within a couple-mile radius of the vehicle location.

"Patients with dementia will often ... seek some kind of concealment or shelter. ... open sheds, fence lines, brush lines..."
— Brian Fitzgibbons, (14:04)

4. Key Personal Details

• Annie was a schoolteacher for 39 years and knows the area well (16:13).
• She left the house with only $60—no credit/debit cards (16:13).
• She has sleep apnea and may sleep in her vehicle, emphasizing the importance of checking roadside stops or side roads.

5. Emotional Appeals and Public Call-to-Action

• Multiple urgent appeals by Nancy Grace and guests to law enforcement, truckers, and the general public to be on the lookout for Annie’s Tacoma.
• Repeated broadcast of tip line numbers: Abbeville County Sheriff's: 864-366-5832 or 911 (12:30, 17:06).

"Please help us bring Grandmother Ms. Tisdale home to her husband and her family. … If you know or think you know anything about Ms. Tisdale’s disappearance, please call..."
— Nancy Grace, (17:06)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the key strategy for locating Annie:

  "The vehicle is the key."
  — Nancy Grace, (10:12)

• Emotional outreach:

  "Her family, including her granddaughter Ryan, begging for your help. Please do not turn away."
  — Nancy Grace, (12:30)

• On searching for dementia patients:

  "If we find the vehicle and Ms. Tisdale is not with the vehicle, we need to begin searching what we call hiding spots... open sheds, fence lines, brush lines..."
  — Brian Fitzgibbons, (14:04)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 02:42 | Nancy Grace introduces case – Annie Tisdale missing | | 03:29 | Dave Mack gives detailed missing timeline | | 05:18 | Introduction of granddaughter Ryan; family perspective| | 07:43 | Expert Brian Fitzgibbons on importance of vehicle | | 09:36 | Specifics about Tacoma (disability symbol, plates) | | 10:55 | Ryan on Annie’s dementia and health issues | | 12:30 | Reiteration of tip line, physical description | | 13:44 | History—Any prior disappearances | | 14:04 | Search tactics for dementia cases | | 16:13 | Dave Mack on Annie’s personal background | | 17:06 | Nancy Grace’s final public call and recap |

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Call to Action

The family and authorities urge anyone who has seen Annie Tisdale or her distinctive 2015 black Toyota Tacoma (license 331860W, disability symbol, Alpha Phi Alpha front plate) to immediately contact the Abbeville County Sheriff's Office at 864-366-5832 or dial 911.
The episode closes on a note of urgency and hope, encouraging listeners to join the search and spread the word.

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If you have any information, please act. Your tip could save Annie Tisdale’s life.

Transcript

[Nancy Grace]

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[Ryan Tisdale]

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[Dave Mack]

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[Ryan Tisdale]

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Breaking news. We need your help and so does 78 year old Annie Tisdale. A grandma gone missing and she has dementia. Even if she's found, she won't be able to communicate who she is. Good evening, I'm Nancy Grace, this is Crime Stories. I want to thank you for being with us. A 78 year old grandmother, Annie Tisdale is missing. She has dementia and she needs your help. Dave Mack, Crime Stories Investigative reporter what can you tell me? Tell me quickly because I want to get to her granddaughter.

[Dave Mack]

Tisdale went missing after she left her home to go to a restaurant and come back. Now I point that out because as this timeline starts, Nancy, she actually normal routine stuff, goes to a restaurant, comes home, her food wasn't ready. So she goes back to this restaurant in a bill, South Carolina and we're talking about being able to track her via license plate cameras and surveillance video in different towns. Now follow me here. From 6pm to 6:15pm she is seen purchasing a lottery ticket scratchers from a local gas station in Aville. Between 7pm and 8pm she is seen on flock cameras in Greenwood, South Carolina. Greenwood, South Carolina is about 13 miles from Abeville. Takes about 20 minutes to get there and is very common and very familiar to her. She knows this area. But on video she's seen on flight cameras making multiple turns and driving around as if she's lost. This is 7pm to 8pm, 8pm to 5:45am the next morning. Nancy 10 hours of this timeline we don't know based on Flock camera footage through multiple towns. She drove a route from Greenwood to Livonia, Georgia through Calhoun Falls, South Carolina into Georgia to Edburton, Georgia and from Ed Burton, Georgia to Livonia, Georgia. This is a lot of driving around and no real direction as to where she's headed. It appears that she lost and turned around and could not figure out how to get back home.

[Nancy Grace]

Nancy, this is a 78 year old grandmother. She's last seen wearing a polka dot dress. I'm going to circle back to Brian Fitzgibbons, the director of operations, USPA nationwide security expertise finding missing people. But first to Ryan Tisdale, granddaughter of Annie Tisdale. She, Ryan and her father are currently searching throughout Georgia to find Ms. Annie Tisdale. Ryan, thank you for being with us tonight. What happened? It sounds like she's driving around lost. Yeah.

[Ryan Tisdale]

So we think that she did get lost and took a wrong turn and she was caught on the Cameras going back and forth between the Abbeville area, Athens, Elberton, Livonia area, Augusta. That's what we know, where the cameras were picked up. And that's all that we know, footage wise.

[Nancy Grace]

Have you seen the footage?

[Ryan Tisdale]

No.

[Nancy Grace]

What are you being told is in the footage?

[Ryan Tisdale]

The police chief told us that they can see the truck and they can see one person driving and they can't see anybody else. They did not confirm it was her.

[Nancy Grace]

So that tells me a lot. Do they have a reason to think it's not her?

[Ryan Tisdale]

No.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, so at this juncture, Ryan Tisdale, do you believe she's still driving her vehicle? Nobody has carjacked her?

[Ryan Tisdale]

Well, I don't believe that she's driving only because the camera hasn't picked it up. The only way we would think that she's driving is if she had gotten more gas.

[Nancy Grace]

Interesting. When was the last time her vehicle was spotted, Ryan Tisdale?

[Ryan Tisdale]

Sunday morning, 7:00am, 7:38am going northbound towards I85 is what they think.

[Nancy Grace]

And where, where on 85? Northbound.

[Ryan Tisdale]

The camera was on Jones street in Livonia. The direction that the Livonia chief is saying was towards 85, but that was the last time it was picked up.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, and to your understanding, Ryan, she's still driving the car?

[Ryan Tisdale]

Yes.

[Nancy Grace]

The truck?

[Ryan Tisdale]

Yep.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay. Brian Fitzgibbons, Director Operations, USPA Nationwide Security. He leads a team of investigators that go all around the world finding missing people. He is a former Marine. He is an Iraqi War vet. He knows what he's talking about. I think this is a huge lead that we've got the vehicle. Why does that matter, Brian?

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Pictures of this vehicle and the tag number need to be shared all over that area. And for the simple reason, like you said, vehicles are easier to find than people. Okay. That vehicle is going to be crucial here. And one thing that I'll add this is also should provide a little bit of hope to the family. That vehicle is also a shelter. That vehicle is also a place that Ms. Tisdale is very familiar with. So, you know, there's a high chance of likelihood that if we can get this vehicle and tag number shared far and wide within driving distance of that last known location, that leads will begin to come in.

[Nancy Grace]

She is driving a 2015 black Toyota Tacoma. To all of you truckers listening now, license 3318, 60W as in Western, 331860W Western. That's her license plate. 2015 black Toyota Tacoma. With me, her granddaughter, Annie Tisdale's granddaughter. Ryan, were there any stickers on her Car. Like on the back of my minivan, I've got. I'm proud of my Eagle Scouts. My twins just made Eagle. My point is, what is identifying about her black Tacoma?

[Ryan Tisdale]

Yes. On the back license plate there is the disability symbol. They have the disability. It may not be hanging, but they have the disability symbol on the back so that they can park in the disability spots. And then on the front plate is the Alpha Greek letters of James Tisdale, her husband. Alpha Phi Alpha is his fraternity. So the front plate is. Are those Greek letters? I don't know what they are, but it's the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

[Nancy Grace]

It would be the A for Alpha, the sign, the Greek sign for Phi, and then another A for Alpha. The vehicle. The vehicle. The vehicle is the key. Did she have a cell phone?

[Ryan Tisdale]

Ryan was either powered off or died when she left Abbeville. So that's the last place they can ping it to is Abbeville.

[Nancy Grace]

So it's been pinged in Abbeville. Abbeville, georgia. Abbeville, South Carolina.

[Ryan Tisdale]

Abbeville, S.C. her home.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, so long story short, Last seen Livonia, Georgia. Last seen northbound I85. Tell me, Ryan Tisdale about her dementia.

[Ryan Tisdale]

So we're thinking it has progressed in the last few months. She does not have the diagnosis technically. However, she was recently sick, losing a lot of weight quickly, which I work in health care and that is not good for elderly to lose weight. So she now weighs 180 pounds. I would say a guess as to 40 pounds lost. And she was recently in the hospital the first week of February concerning her chronic kidney disease, her high blood pressure. And they. I asked my grandfather to ask them to do a dementia test so that way she could get the dementia diagnosis and that they could get easier home health options or just an option for either placement or for help in the home. They did do the test and she failed the dementia test. I don't know the reason why she wasn't given the dementia diagnosis, but she failed the dementia test and that was three.

[Nancy Grace]

Do you believe she has dementia, Ryan? Yes. Why?

[Ryan Tisdale]

Forget questions she's asked in a short amount of time. She cannot remember things that she should normally know. I think the map of her getting lost and driving back and forth to different towns when she should know how to get home is a clear indicator. And I've worked in long term care with people with dementia for eight years. I see similarities.

[Nancy Grace]

Missing grandma Annie Tisdale. She is 78 years old. Her family, including her granddaughter Ryan, begging for your help. Please do not turn away. There is a tip line. If you think you have information, contact 8643-6658-3286-4366-5832. Seen around 5pm Saturday. Her vehicle was last spotted in Livonia, Georgia going toward I85 northbound. Black dress, white spots on it. She was wearing a cowboy hat, driving a 2015 black Toyota Tacoma. License 331860W. The Livonia Police Department needs your help. If you can't remember the number, just dial 91 1. Back to her granddaughter, Ryan Tisdale. Ryan, has she ever disappeared like this before?

[Ryan Tisdale]

No, she's gotten lost one time before, but she had her phone and was able to call. That was over a year ago and it was far before her dementia progressed this far.

[Nancy Grace]

Brian Fitzgibbons, in light of the fact that Ms. Tisdale is showing signs of dementia, how will that affect the search for her?

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

This is gonna. We train search and rescue teams for these specific cases, Nancy, and one of the pieces that you have to identify, you know, if we find this vehicle and Ms. Tisdale is not with the vehicle, we need to begin searching what we call hiding spots. Right. These are non obvious locations. Patients with dementia will often, for whatever reason, because of their condition, not seek help immediately. And they will seek some kind of concealment or shelter. Okay, so these are open sheds, fence lines, brush lines that. That's where the search would be focused, in my opinion. If we find the vehicle first.

[Dave Mack]

Right.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

If, if Ms. Tisdale is not already in the vehicle, we need to do a tight search area because she's not going to walk more than a couple miles away from that vehicle.

[Nancy Grace]

To Ryan Tisdale, her granddaughter joining us tonight, what was she saying at the restaurant? What restaurant was it? What was she talking about? Did she say anything when she bought the lotto ticket?

[Ryan Tisdale]

We don't have anything confirmed.

[Nancy Grace]

Did she go back and pick up her food?

[Ryan Tisdale]

No, it's confirmed that she got the coleslaw, brought it back to my grandfather, went back out, but it's not confirmed if she picked up the food.

[Nancy Grace]

So there was still food waiting at the restaurant for her?

[Ryan Tisdale]

Yes.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay, and she got the lotto ticket, correct?

[Ryan Tisdale]

That's not confirmed by the police either.

[Nancy Grace]

Hmm. Okay, good to know. Because where I was going with that, Ryan, is typically where a lotto tickets are sold. It's gonna be in, let's just say a Circle K or a quick trip gas station. They have video, and I'm wondering if they have video of her getting into her car, her truck, her Tacoma, and if anyone got in with her, it sounds like. No, it sounds like she's driving around lost because if someone got in the car with her, she would not have meandered for hours and hours. They would have taken off, got in the car and dumped her somewhere if it was a typical carjacking, which gives me hope. Dave Mack, do you know anything about that?

[Dave Mack]

Nancy this is a woman who spent 39 years teaching school and middle school and knows her way around this area like the back of her hand. We're talking about a woman who has sleep apnea and she does sleep a lot. So as was mentioned earlier, the fact that we have a vehicle involved, she has shelter, she might very well be on the side of the road, maybe in off on a side road, asleep. Right now the biggest problem with all of this is the knowing that she's driving around on road familiar with, but has turned herself around and is lost and doesn't know which direction to go. And at this point, she's probably run out of gas. So her car is probably sitting on the side of the road unless she has found a place to fill up. She only left the house with $60. No credit cards, no bank debit cards.

[Nancy Grace]

Nancy, all of our trucker friends, everyone, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, South Carolina State Patrol, we're calling on you. Please look for this Black Tacoma, a 2015 Black Tacoma, license plate 331860W. There is a disability symbol on the back and on the front the Greek letters Alpha Phi Alpha. Please help us bring Grandmother Ms. Tisdale home to her husband and her family. If you know or think you know anything about Ms. Tisdale's disappearance, please call the Abbeville County Sheriff's 864-366-5832. And please join us in our prayers to bring Annie Tisdale home. Thank you to our guests, especially Ryan Tisdale for being with us in the search for her grandma. And thank you to you for being with us. Nancy Grace signing off. Goodbye friend.

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