The military veteran was last seen in the 800 block of Dunwoodie Drive on San Antonio’s east side.
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a 58-year-old woman with a diagnosed medical condition who has been missing since April 1.
Josalyn Sawyer, known to loved ones as “Joy,” was last seen around 5 a.m. at her home in the 800 block of Dunwoodie Drive on the city’s east side, according to her family. She was wearing a black top, black bottoms, tan sneakers, a black scarf and black-framed glasses.
Sawyer is described as being 5 feet, 4 inches tall; weighing about 100 pounds; and having brown hair and brown eyes. Police said she may be in vulnerable condition due to mental health challenges that have worsened in recent years.
“There may have been some conversation, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ while getting ready to go to work. That was the extent of the conversation,” said LaJuan Sawyer, her older brother. “That was the last time she was seen.”
The family said Sawyer, a U.S. military veteran, had a history of mental illness that escalated after a series of family losses in 2019 and 2021. She had served both in the Army Reserves and later in the Navy, according to her brother.
“During those times, Joy did the bulk of taking care of them—managing them, getting them to their hospital appointments, making sure their medication was taken,” LaJuan Sawyer said. “Since then, she’s sort of taken a turn for the worse since our parents passed away.”
Police said Sawyer is known to frequent areas around the east side, including Fort Sam Houston, East Houston Street, local Dollar Tree stores and the Carver Library, where she had been taking online classes. She was also active in her church community, playing piano at St. Stephen’s Baptist Church, and previously worked at a local CVS warehouse.
“At times, it was sort of tough to reign her in,” her brother said. “Those were trying times for her.”
Anyone with information about Sawyer’s whereabouts is urged to contact the San Antonio Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit at (210) 207-7660.