‘Elopement’ bills boost resources for times when people with autism, dementia wander or run off

By: Danielle J. Brown

Outlets: Maryland Matters

Published: February 25, 2026

Words: 891

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 1 day ago

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Shari Bailey will never forget the day in 2020 when her children’s nanny called to tell her that her 6-year-old daughter was missing.

“I remember the day the nanny called me … ‘I can’t find Laila … the door is open,’ and I freaked out,” Bailey said, fighting back tears as she retold the story during a news conference Tuesday.

Laila, who is autistic and nonverbal, had “eloped,” meaning she wandered out of sight from …

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