News 9 Cameraman Helps Find Elderly Missing Woman

A Silver Alert issued in Oklahoma City on Monday night had a happy ending.

The person who found the missing senior citizen is a News 9 photojournalist.

“I'm so glad to see you all,” Hattye McKinnon told the Oklahoma City police officers who helped her.

The 89-year-old went missing in Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon.

6/1/2015 Related Story: OKC Police: Missing 89-Year-Old Woman Found Safe

McKinnon went with her daughter to a doctor's appointment and took off in the car at some point.

She must have driven around for hours and the Silver Alert was issued at 11 p.m.

“This was God, he just used me as a tool,” said News 9 photographer Michael Johnston.

Johnston had just gotten off work at News 9 when he heard the Silver Alert bulletin on his scanner and stopped at Memorial and Rockwell in northwest OKC.

“Right there at the intersection is a silver Honda Accord just sitting in the intersection, not moving, blocking traffic and I thought, what is going on,” Johnston said.

Johnston remembered the alert.

“What caught my attention was the first three numbers on the license plate from the Silver Alert and I thought, is this the car?” Johnston recalled.

He flagged the car down using his safety lights while calling 911.

“I knocked on the window and this sweet old lady opens the door and I recognized her immediately from the picture,” Johnston explained. “Because it's a statewide alert, the chances of you seeing it, it almost feels like you're hitting the lottery,” he added.

McKinnon was emotional when Johnston explained her family was looking for her and he was there to help.

He waited with McKinnon until Oklahoma City police arrived.

6/2/2015 Related Story: News 9 Photojournalist Locates Missing OKC Woman

“This is a good day, when you can do something like this and help someone out,” Johnston said. “It was a good feeling knowing she's home safe,” he added.

McKinnon's family told News 9 she is resting at home now and they are extremely grateful someone took the time to help her.

The Department of Public Safety is responsible for issuing Silver Alerts.

A spokesperson said Oklahoma usually has between 50 to 65 Silver Alerts a year.

So far this year, the state has had 29 of them.