Elderly couple reported missing in St. Mary Parish found safe but disoriented and cold in their vehicle in St. Bernard Parish at 2 a.m. after running out of gas

An anonymous call to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office just before 2 a.m. Friday about a man seen on the ground outside a vehicle was the key to authorities finding an elderly couple reported missing in St. Mary Parish, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“This was a fortunate ending to a serious situation of a missing elderly couple,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “I’m glad someone called about this as soon as they saw something.’’

Felton and Marguerite Jones, both in the 80s and from the Jeanerette area, were found safe but disoriented and cold in a Jeep Commander which had run out of gas in the 5800 block of East St. Bernard Highway near a closed gas station in Violet, about six miles east of Chalmette.

The couple didn’t know where they were when approached by Sheriff’s Dep. Clayten Burns, who had been dispatched after the anonymous call about suspicious activity, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The man, who had gotten back in the Jeep when the deputy arrived, and woman who was also inside were discovered to be reported missing in St. Mary Parish, the sheriff said. He said they were taken by ambulance to St. Bernard Parish Hospital for examination.

Their relatives were informed and were later reunited with the couple.

The family had alerted St. Mary Parish authorities on Thursday when they couldn’t locate the couple. The family had reported the couple planned a trip to New Orleans. Louisiana law enforcement agencies had been alerted about the missing pair.