By Jon Gambrell
Enquirer contributor

OXFORD - The search for a missing 81-year-old man was in its fourth day Monday as investigators pursued a shortening list of leads and sightings.

Charles E. Capel, of Patrick Drive in Oxford, was last seen Thursday. Police began searching for Capel the next day using helicopters, dogs, and both companies of Oxford's Fire Department. His wife said he went to bed as normal Thursday night, but was missing Friday morning, police said.

Capel, a Miami University professor emeritus, has Alzheimer's disease, causing progressive memory loss. He is described as 6 feet tall, 185 pounds, balding with brown eyes and a full beard. Police say he could be wearing pajamas or boxer shorts with running shoes.

On Monday, police searched hiking trails off of Bonham Road. No further searches were immediately planned, according to police.

Police continue to ask local residents to check their property, especially if it has any outer buildings or wooded trails Capel may have wandered into.

Oxford is surrounded by farmland and is within a few miles of Hueston Woods State Park. Miami University in Oxford alone has more than 13 miles of hiking trails in wooded areas.

Oxford Detective Sgt. John Buchholz said investigators were following up on possible leads.

"If any hospital, nursing home or drop-in shelters have a John Doe on their hands, they should give us a call," he said. "We're just trying to find him."

E-mail jgambrell@fuse.net