Missing retired fire battalion chief reunited with family

11:25 p.m. Update: Merlin Turner was found Thursday and has been reunited with his family. According to Fox40 in Sacramento, a family friend said between the stress brought on by COVID-19 and his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, Turner needed some respite.

Social media was instrumental in finding Turner. Someone reported seeing him in Knights Landing and another person saw him eating a burger at their diner. The family friend says Turner didn’t even realize how many days had gone by or that he was on the news being reported as missing.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The family of retired Richmond Battalion Chief Merlin Kelly Turner has been frantically searching for him since he was last seen in Brown's Valley in Yuba County on Saturday night.

He could be traveling to the Ice House Road or Jenkinson Lake areas of El Dorado County. Merlin is fond of waterways near Folsom as well.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said they have a detective on the case assisting in a search for the 62-year-old retired Turner who was reported missing Tuesday.

Turner was last seen at a friend's home Saturday night. He left that home after dinner at about 8:45 p.m. driving his silver 2005 Dodge Ram truck. The truck's license plate is CA 7U74029. Authorities say his cell phone pinged a tower in Folsom early Sunday morning. The route he likely took through Marysville was down Highway 65 into Folsom.

The family says Merlin's phone has been turned off for two days.

Anyone with information that could lead to the whereabouts of Merlin is asked to contact their local law enforcement or the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.