Missing Person Investigator Tackles Goggins Challenge For Alzheimer’s Awareness

Alzheimer’s. It is a word we hear often when people go missing. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease kills more people than breast and prostate cancer combined. Armed with those facts amongst personal experience, Mesa Police Department’s Missing Person Investigator, Dave Silva, found a different way of bringing awareness to the subject while raising money for the Desert Southwest Arizona Alzheimer’s Association.  

Dave is one of three civilian investigators tasked with investigating missing people cases. He has been in this role for 9 years.  Dave knows firsthand how Alzheimer’s affects people and their memory loss. He currently has three people in his family experiencing the effects of this disease, including his soon to be 99-year-old grandmother (Nana Cuca). 

After watching one of his friends take on the “Goggins 4x4x48 Challenge” in March, Dave was inspired. He combined his passion for Alzheimer’s awareness and physical fitness into one event. Dave explained that the Goggins Challenge is running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.  “I will be doing a modified version of the challenge since my 50-year-old soccer knees might not hold up…” Dave chuckled. He will be incorporating a 6500-meter row at his local gym and a 10-mile bicycle ride near his neighborhood as substitutions. 

In 48 hours, Dave will cover 66 miles. That is more than 2 marathons! He asked for names of loved ones that have died from or are currently experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s so that he can complete the challenge in their honor.  Dave named each leg of this challenge after the names he received and had them printed on a shirt that he wore proudly while accomplishing this event. 

Larry Berby – Dave’s father-in-law, experiencing early onset Dementia symptoms.

Frank Corman Jr. - Father of coworker and good friend, died of Alzheimer’s.

Wayne Townley - Father of coworker, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Norman Meltzer - Father of coworker, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Hugh Turner - Missing person with Alzheimer’s, disappeared from Mesa and body recovered nearly 10 years after disappearance in the desert 4 miles from his house.

Robert Moore - Missing person with Alzheimer’s, disappeared from Mesa and body recovered 3 days later in the desert.

Juana Monsisvais - Dave’s Tia, experiencing early onset Dementia symptoms.

Rafael Vaca – Missing person with Alzheimer’s, disappeared from Mesa. Located alive.

Albert Schafer – Missing person with Alzheimer’s, disappeared from Mesa. Located alive.

Mariana Gonzalez – Missing person with Alzheimer’s, disappeared from Mesa. Located alive.

Joseph Vincent – Missing person with Alzheimer’s, disappeared from Mesa. Located alive.

Nana Cuca (Refugia Renteria) – Dave’s grandmother, experiencing early stages of Alzheimer’s. 

Joy Gray – Mother of coworker, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Nita Jackson – Friend’s mother, died of Alzheimer’s.

Rose Fagan – Friend’s grandmother, died of Alzheimer’s.  

April 9, 2021 at 9:00 p.m., Dave began this challenge. He asked anyone who wanted to join him on any legs of this event to do so. Friends and family rode a bike with him, ran with him, and even watched him row. All showing their support for this great cause and Dave’s efforts to bring awareness. 

Dave pushed through the early morning of April 10^th and throughout the day until hitting a wall during his 7^th and 8^th leg.  “I realized last night in a tough way you can’t sprint your way through…” Dave reflected. Luckily, Dave’s friend, Dr. Brian Prebil was with him and was able to help when his legs suffered from overuse. 

Henry Vigil is another friend that stayed with Dave over the last 24 hours and according to Dave, took care of him. Henry gave Dave rides to the gym, since he was sleep deprived, and made sure he ate. Henry also rode his bike along Dave, showing that he was not alone. 

Like with any challenges, Dave had to overcome certain obstacles. In this case, Dave’s legs were heavy and overworked; he needed more recovery time. He ended up modifying his original layout and changed the 1:00 a.m. run on April 11^th to a 10-mile bicycle ride to give his legs a break. 

The last leg of this 48-hour event will be a 4-mile run for Nana Cuca. Dave will complete this run at 5:00 p.m., with his fifteen-year-old daughter, Reyna Silva, by his side. Dave glowed when he spoke about Reyna running with him and said she will give him the drive he needs to complete this challenge.  Reyna is a cross country and track athlete at Xavier College Preparatory school. 

Dave had a goal of raising $1500 for Desert Southwest Arizona Alzheimer’s Association… as of this writing he has raised $2725. 

The Mesa Police Department is proud of Investigator Silva and his efforts to raise money for Alzheimer’s awareness.  We share in his endeavor and are committed to supporting our community members affected by this disease.   

If anyone would like to donate, you can do so at

http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=14244&pg=personal&px=19345017