Silver Alert activation varies from state to state

CLAY CO., Ind. (WTHI) - A man's family wants answers from authorities after reporting him missing on Friday, September 28.

56-year-old David Schroeder of Clay County, Indiana has been missing for three days.

His family wonders why authorities haven't issued a Silver Alert for the missing man.

Activation in Silver Alerts vary from state to state. Some states limit alerts to people over a certain age or with mental disabilities.

Indiana's criteria includes the following: the person must be over the age of 18 and police have to determine whether the person missing is in immediate danger.

Immediate danger means the person must be either a Missing Endangered Adult or a High Risk Missing Person.

"Endangered adult could be one that's not very capable of taking care of themselves, needs assistance, has Alzheimer's or another type of mental issue. High risk is a variety of things. Medication, life-sustaining medication," said Sheriff Mike Heaton of the Clay County Sheriff's Department.

After these criteria are met, authorities then issue a request for a Silver Alert to Indiana State Police.