CASTLE ROCK, Colorado. – It has been almost a week since Robert Gautsche, 58, escaped from a rehabilitation clinic in Castle Rock and his brother says he is a “nervous wreck”.
Brad Gautsche said his brother suffers from Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS) and needs his medication. WKS is a neurological disorder that causes confusion, amnesia and impairs short-term memory.
On February 4, Robert escaped the Silver Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation Center just before 8:00 pm.
Brad admired his older brother as he grew up. A father of two, he had a successful career and a loving family.
“An incredible and loving wife, two children and addiction completely dominated,” said Brad.
Robert began to abuse pills and alcohol. Brad remembers convincing his brother to call 911 on a drinking night.
“He was admitted to the local hospital and a .48 blew up, which is deadly,” said Brad.
In 2020, Brad became his brother’s attorney. He managed his finances while his Robert put his life back on track.
Robert got a new job and was doing well until he relapsed. He was admitted to Sky Ridge Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with WKS due to alcohol abuse, according to his brother.
“It’s like Alzheimer’s on steroids,” said Brad.
Robert stayed in the hospital from February to August in the ICU with someone watching him closely. Brad said his brother tried to escape three times.
When he was released, he was transferred to a rehabilitation clinic in Lone Tree and then to Nursing and Rehabilitation in Silver Heights in Castle Rock. Robert stayed at the facility for three days when he escaped.
“He would never have been transferred here if I knew it was not a 100% closed facility,” said Brad.
Video obtained by a search and rescue team shows Robert crossing an intersection. He was last captured in King Soopers near the Promenade Parkway in Castle Rock.
Denver7 contacted the specialist nursing and rehabilitation area at Silver Heights. A spokesman released the statement below:
“Castlerock is proud of its excellent service, and one of the points we focus on is the privacy rights of residents. As such, we can comment in general that we had a non-custodian resident who recently left the facility on his own. concern for the resident’s well-being, the facility continues to work with local authorities, the doctor and the family daily to locate the resident. We maintain that the facility’s safety standards are sound. “
Brad fears the worst as time goes on and searches lead to dead ends. That’s why he’s begging people to help him find his brother and best friend before it’s too late.
Robert was last seen wearing a brown leather jacket and jeans.
Anyone with information should contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office detective at (303) 784-7810.