'John Doe' reunited with Detroit family

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DETROIT, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A mentally ill Michigan man was reunited with family outside a courtroom after living in a home as "John Doe" since 2008.

Maurice Williams, 46, disappeared from a family home in Detroit shortly after his mother's death in 2008. Police found Williams, who rarely ever speaks, his siblings said. When Williams couldn't tell officers his name or where he lived they brought him to a hospital who assigned him the name John D108 Doe and assigned a guardian, Kathleen White-Montgomery, owner of Guardianship Services.

Williams lives with Audre Watts, an adult foster care provider, who said the man needs constant care, the Detroit Free Press said Tuesday.

White-Montgomery said she's leery of allowing Williams to return to live with his family. The social worker and her family spent years trying to find Williams' family, going so far as to have an article published in the Free-Press with her phone number and photos of Williams, with no response.

Williams' family said they also have been searching to no avail, but want their brother back.

"We've been looking for him all these years," said Janine Williams, Maurice's sister.

Wayne County Probate Judge Terrance Keith said he'll determine a path forward for Williams' care at a hearing in February.