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Woman Still Missing After Using The Restroom At LACMA Two Weeks Ago

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A Manhattan Beach woman disappeared nearly two weeks ago during a family visit to LACMA. Now, police are asking the public for help in locating her. Nancy Paulikas, 55, was last seen at LACMA on October 15 at 2:45 p.m. She went to use the women's restroom while her husband, Kirk Moody, went to use the men’s. Paulikas was spotted via video surveillance at Wilshire and McCarthy Vista, headed west on foot, at about 3 p.m., according to a release from the Manhattan Beach Police Department.

Paulikas once worked in the finance industry as a tech executive, but according to her husband, she has been suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease for the past three years. She is now at the developmental stage of a 4-year-old child and can often become disoriented or anxious. However, she is in good health and able to walk long distances. He says it is unlike her to go off on her own, and he believes she is most likely looking for him, KTLA reports.

Paulikas' family has put up a website detailing updates, search efforts and posts about who Paulikas is.

For example:

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What you don’t know is that she is a graduate of the University of California-Davis with a Master’s Degree in computer science from UCLA and is also a certified pilot, an animal lover who almost became a vet, an experienced hiker and back packer, a devoted fan of Nine Inch Nails, a passionate conservationist and an accomplished business woman. To her parents, George and Joan, she is the treasured only child who lights up their lives. To me, her husband of fourteen years, she is the soul-mate that I’d never imagined being lucky enough to find. To her many friends, she is regarded as a stalwart, intelligent, fun-loving and loyal compadre. Though many of these outstanding characteristics have been dimmed over the last couple of years by the progressive toll of her advancing Alzheimer’s disease, she remains all of these things and we will continue to share the stories that make her as real to you as she is to us until together we have her safely at home.

Paulikas is a 55-year-old white woman who is 5’7”, about 140 pounds, and who has grayish brown hair and blue eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing jeans and a red and white paisley shirt with long sleeves. She did not have a phone, wallet or jacket with her at the time.

Anyone who sees Paulikas should call 9-1-1. Anyone with information can contact LAPD Detective Mercado at 213-996-1800 or call the family’s tip lines at 310-567-6594 or 310-567-5171.

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