Missing Navy Sailor Found

He will now seek treatment, a family spokesperson says

A missing Navy sailor who suffers from post-traumatic stress symptoms and depression was found Saturday and will turn himself in to police for treatment, a family spokersperson said.

Petty 2nd Class Nicholas Hamilton, 31, had been last seen Monday at Naval Base San Diego and was the center of a furious community search led by his wife, Amanda Hamilton.

A family spokesperson was unsure where Hamilton was found, but she said his wife wanted to thank the people who assisted her search, especially the Skateworld in Linda Vista and Casey Withers, a neighbor and friend who found Hamilton.

A large group of people met Saturday morning at Skateworld to coordinate a search. Missing person flyers had been dispersed and posted across the county throughout the week.

Hamilton's mental state troubled his wife and others who believed he could cause harm to himself. She accused the Navy of turning its back on her husband instead of providing him the help she believes he needed.

In March, Hamilton tried to kill himself at sea when he took over 200 over-the-counter medications aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, his wife said. He was transported by emergency helicopter to a Japan hospital and then back to San Diego.

She said the chief of her husband's unit seemed unconcerned when she met with him Wednesday.

"He looked up and said if my husband was not found in 10 days,” Amanda Hamilton said, "that he would be declared a deserter and his pay would be suspended and we would lose all our military benefits.”

The Navy said it was in daily contact with Hamilton's wife and was working closely with the police department.

It noted that San Diego police was in charge of the search.

As for Amanda Hamilton's complaints about the psychiatric care her husband has received from the Naval medical service, a Navy spokesperson said patient privacy prohibits her from discussing or responding the issue.

Amanda Hamilton, a mother of two young boys, organized her own search, helped by family members, neighbors and other friends.

Before personally finding Hamilton on Saturday, Withers expressed an urgency earlier this week over their efforts to find Hamilton.

"The sooner we can find him and get him the help that he needs, the better off we're all going to be," Withers said.

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