The gentleman behind us, you're looking at, that is Robert McDonough.'. How can we protect it? Bergdahl pled guilty and was sentenced to no prison time, a dishonorable discharge, a $1,000 forfeiture, and a reduction in rank from sergeant to private. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) - A Pittsburgh street preacher known as "The Sparrow" was found living in Puerto Rico more than three decades after she went missing, Ross Township police announced on Thursday. Kopta's family believes she took a flight to Puerto Rico after her disappearance, spent a week or two there, then returned to Pittsburgh. His parents were just glad he was safe. The search for missing 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart who had been kidnapped from her bed in 2002 ended nine months later when she was finally found and reunited with her family. She didnt discuss her past much with people there. Savannas name was changed to Samantha, and she grew up thinking her step-father was her real father. His family is happy that at least he is safe. Her mother, Iquilla Degree, said in 2020: After 20 years, I still believe my daughter is alive. If you find yourself interested in researching a missing persons case, you might find yourself searching Google for terms such as; missing persons cases found alive, missing people found dead, or missing persons found stories. Infants with this condition are born with very hard, thick skin covering most of their bodies. / CBS Pittsburgh. He said she needed to complete a mission: conceive a child with a human male. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons (NamUS) database shows in its data that there are an estimated 600,000 individuals go missing in the United States every year, as well as over 4,400 sets of remains that have yet to be identified. Upon investigation, police found this matter as a murder case. However, this woman wasnt really missing. Amberly Ann Mendoza, killed in 1996. Like per their beliefs God has done these things before. NamUS missing persons database, as previously mentioned, includes over 40,000 sets of remains that have not been identified. It was in 1991 when 11-year-old Jaycee went missing outside from her home. To get by, he did odd jobs and lived on the street, using a pseudonym. Bob Kopta reported his wife, Patricia, missing in 1992. Through DNA samples, they confirmed a match. ", "We really thought she was dead all those years. He was presumed dead, but he was alive and came back to the town in his fifties. Eventually, they were able to get an investigator to go digging. But, 34 years later, Lovell was found living in Fort Lauderdale, working odd jobs. Confused, she confronted her mother, Ann Pettway, who told her she had been abandoned by her mum at birth. First published on March 2, 2023 / 8:55 AM. Another way to find a list of cold cases is by simply Googling it. Rather than heading back to his troop, he stayed in the village, got married, and changed his name toSheikh Abdullah. He hopped on a bus to Niagra Falls and somewhere along the way hurt his head and suffered from amnesia, forgetting who he was. After Harris Todd won the custody of his daughter, claiming that his wife is abusive, Savanna Todd went missing. When 16-year-old factory girl Mary Flanagan left her home in East London for work on New Year's Eve of '59, her family could never have imagined the prospect of never seeing her again. Missing Pennsylvania woman found alive after 31 years. Luckily, the person who claimed to see her mother was her step-sister; her father had been abusive and had multiple affairs. I lost an uncle like this. One day, when Nguyen Thi Van was 16 years old, she came home late. It probably would have bankrupted them if they could even have navigated the system that far. 17, 2022) Missing since Nov. 19, 2021. If they are delusional, guarded or lost cognitive or language abilities (stroke or other traumas) to recall details of their pasts, they effectively become ghosts. Patricia Kopta's husband Robert Kopta said they were married for about 20 years when she took off without a trace. Missing persons found dead years later are often labeled as Jane or John Does due to their remains being unidentifiable. He was gone for 23 years before an investigator found him through a Medicare record. (3.1). A rescue untcomprised of Thai Navy SEALS, technical experts from around the globe,and prayingcitizens all contributed to the effort. Sounds like metal health issues. Cantellop attributed Eller's ability to survive to her experience with nature. Here are 25 Missing People That Were Mysteriously Found Alive. He also wanted to get more intelligence about the Taliban as a leverage. It was later discovered that Bergdahl snuck out of his post in an attempt to trek over to another operating base and tell the general there that his base was being poorly operated. Investigators say she has been living in an adult care home in Puerto Rico. Whenever someone goes missing, its a tragic and terrifying event. Although the cause of the death was ruled as suicide via carbon monoxide poisoning, his daughter believed he could have been murdered, as he "made enemies easily.". George Clayton Bleuel. As a punishment, her mother locked him out of the house. It is mind boggling, once you get into it, and the whole Missing 411 experience has happened in my life. Twenty years later, he returned with the nameKwame Seku, claiming hed had amnesia and wanting to claim his pension for himself. Eventually, he was declared dead. Javier Cantellop, one of the rescuers in the helicopter, described the encounter as "unbelievable.". WHEN Angelica Gaitan was fished from the sea, unconscious and suffering from hypothermia this week, she made international headlines. Patricia Kopta's husband reported her missing from the North Hills in 1992. Lucky are those who went missing and then came back alive. Initially, her parents were so swayed by their friend Berchtold that they truly believed he took her on a horseback-riding trip. Missing woman found alive after more than 30 years; family reacts, A Pennsylvania woman who has been missing for more than 30 years is found alive in an adult care home in Puerto Rico. On January 28, 2019, Hormel Foods - a company that employed Jayme's parents - announced they were giving the $25,000 reward they put out for finding the missing teen to Jayme herself. The missing persons case didn't turn up much for weeks and then one of Michele's co-workers, 21 year-old Heather Sellars, went missing as well, and things started to get strange. The accused kidnapper's mother, according to a neighbor, is "totally distraught" over her son's supposed actions. Berchtold said he was to be the father. Turns out, he was right. They wouldnt fingerprint them? On July 5, 2018, she sent her family a textsaying she was pulling over in a grocery store parking lotto sleep in her car. It's not clear how many go missing in the wild. He was declared missing in 2004, and in 2011, his location was found. Its a case closed, and a family reconnected. McDonough came out of the nearby woods and walked right up to the camera. In the United States alone, there are over 200,000 unsolved cold cases, some of which are decades old, and others occurred more recently. She was a . I have written about my brother's mys. Its true that people can disappear within institutions, especially nursing homes. Carlos Snchez Ortiz De Salaza, a psychiatrist from Spain, disappeared in 1995. As he left the courtroom, he remarkedto no on in particular, "Bye Jayme.". Reddit user dipdippity told the haunting tale of this family who went missing on July 22nd, 2015. Kopta, a street preacher known as "The Sparrow," was reported missing by her husband in 1992. In 1992,Nguyen Thi Van was a 16-year-old who came home late one day in Vietnam. He suffered from mental health issues, including having a mental capacity of a 12-year-old. She had been gone for 21 years before she eventually escaped back to Vietnam thanks to the help of a truck driver. Lucy tried to take her kids, but he wouldnt let her, so she left and started the new phase of her life. 15 Amy Lynn Bradley. He had no idea that he was a missing person. Steven Stayner, a second grader in 1972, was walking home from school one day and completely vanished. Repeat. Before this, the police considered this as a murder case, but she said that she left her family because of her abusive husband. She had been locked up in a closet with a dresser covering the door. "We were contacted by an agent from Interpol as well as a social worker from Puerto Rico who believed they had her in an adult care home," Deputy Chief Brian Kohlhepp said. Shawn Hornbeck, an 11 year old was kidnapped while he was riding his bike near his home in Missouri. After searching for many years, he was declared dead in 2010. All of the tips and suggestions provided for locating a missing person can apply to a person of any age so we recommend using those strategies as well. Asha's family still believes she is alive, and her case is considered an open investigation. Angelica Gaitan went missing for two years before she was found alive floating in the sea by two baffled fishermen. https://charleyproject.org/case/patricia-gail-kopta. Each of these cases have seen no resolution, some of them seeking resolution for decades. When Stayner turned 14 and Parnell brought another victim home, a young boy named Timmy White, Stayner had to act. Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped at knifepoint in 2002 from her own bedroom, in Salt Lake City, at the age of 14, as her younger sister pretended to be asleep. A vehicle that was tied to a missing person's case from 1998 was found in Arkansas with human remains inside, according to local officials. A decades-old family mystery got a positive resolution when a woman from Ross, missing since 1992, was found . However, as the cases above proved, even after decades missing people can still be found. She told others she would die a martyr on the streets when she was too tired to walk any longer. A Pennsylvania woman who has been missing for more than 30 years is found alive in an adult care home in Puerto Rico. Alexander Selkirk is one of history's most famous missing persons, but there's a good chance you don't recognize his name. Chris is an award-winning reporter who started with KDKA in May 2019. Ross Township Deputy Police Chief Brian Kohlhepp said an Interpol agent and a social worker from Puerto Rico contacted. They were all forced to marry old men, age 70 to 80, in China. Lets find out answers to your questions by looking at some unknown facts. Bob Kopta said Patricia had some mental health issues and had talked about going to Puerto Rico where it was warm. Police initially suspected the girl's non-custodial parents, but did . However, as she aged, she began to reveal more about her life, which led to contact with Ross Police. Netty Nance found out she'd been kidnapped at birth when she was 17. Paranoid schizophrenia. He left at 31 and she at 18. The two contacted the authorities, and then the investigation was done. With the help of an organization, they found him. Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Sometimes timing is everything, the reporter said to camera. Flakka: Know The Facts About The Most Horrifying Zombie Drug. It is a terrifying experience that cant be imagined. This continued for nine months until she was recognized and rescued while out with the couple in Sandy, Utah. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime communitytogether we can do better. Marco, Sylvia, and Miriam disappeared that day without a trace. Some of the most famous cold cases solved by DNA technology include the Golden State Killer and the Boston Strangler. You wont believe it, but the US alone has around 90,000 missing people at a time. Since he was dead, she collected his pension from Verizon to care for their children. After a soccer practice on June 25, 2018, the mother of one of the players became worried when her son did not return from practice. Steven Stayner, while walking home from school, went missing. I'm an atheist but it's weird to me when there are people who believe in the Bible with all its wacky goings on, but then treat anyone claiming comparable experiences like they're crazy. His tracks stopped close to the lakes edge, his backpack was abandoned nearby and numerous searches failed to dig up further clues. All 12 boys and the coach were found alive on July 2, 2018. Robert McDonough suffered from dementia at age 73 and was reported missing in Limington, Maine. Glad her family has closure. Bob Kopta reported his wife, Patricia, missing in 1992. It was a total shock," the woman's sister said. In 2002, a former handyman, hired by Smart's parents, broke into their home. Timothy Carney was last seen on September 28th, 2004 by his roommate at their apartment. He suffered a head injury and lost his memory. Cant believe I came across this post and its about our little hometown. We can only imagine what that might feel like, but we can at least hear their stories. After texting the following morning that she was getting back on the road, communication suddenly stopped. Her sister stated she'd had a "religious obsession" since she was a child. Each of these true missing persons stories are shocking, haunting, and often unbelievable, and leave the families and friends of these victims holding their loved ones a bit tighter at night, and often use their experiences to help others with missing loved ones. Eventually, in 2013, the young women were found and rescued from his grasp. A little over three months later, authorities tracked down Berchtold. Arthur Gerald Jones, a Chicago trader, up and vanished in 1979, leaving behind his wife and three kids. Twenty years later, mushroom pickers in Tuscany found him living in a nature reserve. 1) Lucy Ann Johnson Source = Wordpress Leaving behind her daughter, Lucy went missing in the year 1961. Whenever someone goes missing, it a tragic event; the persons family wonders what had happened. After he was arrested, he committed suicide while in prison. Smith always feared the worst: hearing her beloved sister was found dead somewhere. Timothy Carney was seen in 2004 by his roommate at their apartment. She then went through a sham marriage ceremony with Mitchell, who claimed to be an angel sent to slay the anti-Christ. Email is required and look like an e-mail address. Here are 15 people who everyone thought were dead, but were found alive after decades. It is estimated that about 600,000 people are reported missing in . Every year, between 89 percent and 92 percent of missing people are found alive or dead. In June of 1959, nearly 1 year after going missing, some torn clothing, a broken hearing aide, and a few bone fragments were found in a remote area 2,500 feet up Mount Meeker in the middle of nowhere and about 3 miles from where Bizup had gone missing. Missing people found alive are stories that capture the nation's attention whenever they break. Soon after, Kopta lost her job because she was "seeing things" and her behavior was disruptive, and then she began to walk the streets to spread her message. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Beddie Walraven went missing in 1946 and her remains were found in the Mojave Desert in 1971. His mother reported him as missing people, but he was not found until he turned 18 and started applying for the college. Jayme Closs. Police have "solved" a decades-old missing person case but the woman who vanished so long ago now has dementia and can't explain her own disappearance. . "I come home one night and she's just gone and nobody knows where she's at," Bob Kopta said during a police press conference Thursday. I live in this part of Pittsburgh. It turns out that the person who answered the ad was Evans half-sister. Kohlhepp said as Kopta aged, she began to open up, and those in Puerto Rico made the connection and contacted Ross Township police. She was described as 160 cm Asian, who was wearing dark clothing and could speak English well. Knight became pregnant several times and had miscarriages after being beaten by her captor, and Berry gave birth to a daughter in captivity. Patty, as her family called her, street preached around the city under the name "The Sparrow." In 2014, 12-year-old Charles Bothuell V was reported missing by his parents. Her abductor, Brian Mitchell, took her to an encampment in the woods where his partner Wanda Barzee forced her to change into a robe. Missing persons found dead years later are often labeled as Jane or John Does due to their remains being unidentifiable. Parnel abused him and gave him drugs and alcohol. Paislee Shultis was reported missing from her Cayuga Heights home in July 2019, according to NBC 4. There were 4,058 adults and 1,56 children in this group. At age 28, Judith Bello, a wife and mother of two, went missing with her car totally abandoned in Stanwood, Washington. When the investigators arrived, he disappeared again, as he did not want to be rediscovered. It . By default, all missing persons cases should remain open until the person is found alive or dead, and the remains of the dead are located, identified and where possible returned to their family. Resources for Finding Missing Children Center for Missing and Exploited Children www.missingkids.org 24-Hour Hotline 1-800-843-5678 Faces of the Lost www.facesofthelost.org 24-Hour Helpline The Clearinghouse provides a nationwide, toll-free hotline to receive tips on the whereabouts of missing persons. While in captivity, she also gave birth to 2 daughters while in captivity and developed a case of Stockholm Syndrome. Unlike many other missing persons cases, these mysterious disappearances lack the when, where, why, and often the how that are necessary in order to solve the case and bring resolution to friends and family of the missing person. CNN . After Barbara's daughters met her. In January 2017, they were found alive and well in the Houston, Texas and their mother was arrested. Last seen playing in a neighborhood yard, the girl was supposed to meet her friend and neighbor, six-year-old Maria Freitta, who was also the owner of the dog. She was rescued in 2009 after Garrido visited the UC Berkeley college campus with their 2 daughters, and his suspicious activity lead to Jaycees discovery. Though the woman refused to share her personal life with anyone - years later, suffering from dementia, she started to divulge details. Dugard was held captive in a shack in Garrido and his wifes backyard for 18 years . Missing persons cases that ended in tragedy and remain unsolved to this day include the disappearance and suspected homicide of; Hannah Truelove, Kurt Sova, and Adam Walsh. Mum who faked having terminal cancer to con well-wishers into donating spared . Julia Wandelt, 21, from Poland, went viral after suggesting Kopta was declared legally dead years ago. Subsequently, Bobby Hernandez was arrested and tried in court for kidnapping. Kopta, a street preacher known as "The Sparrow," was reported missing by her husband in 1992. More recently solved cold cases in 2020 due to DNA technology includes the 1973 murder of Naomi Sanders, the 1996 murder of Jessica Baggen, and the 1986 murder of Lisa Holstead, among many others. It took about nine months from Interpol agents contacting police to the woman being identified as Patricia Kopta. Consider their surprise and relief when that loved one shows up after years of being gone! The best place to start when researching a cold case are the case files. Then 31 years later, the girl was found at a new place when questioned she didnt give any reason why she left and never spoke to her family. His mother put out a missing person report but they didnt find him until Julian was 18 and applying for college. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Following his appearance on TV in 2001, Newsnight exposed his false claims and seven years later, Sessarego was found dead in his garage in Belgium. Yuma PD. Over the past year, NewsNation has highlighted missing persons cases from across the country, and the families searching for answers. Kopta was last seen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 20, 1992. The hard thing is, you cant really get someone help who doesnt want it. According to the National Institute of Justice in an article released in 2018, 76% of the resolved missing persons cases entered into NamUS missing persons database were found alive, leaving 24% of the resolved missing persons to be found deceased. He and White escaped and hitchhiked 40 miles to the nearest police station. Unsolved Mysteries has been credited over the years for leading to major increases in tips sent to law enforcement in cases that have gone completely cold for years or even decades, as well as even having a handful of the cases being solved, some leading to convictions. If you have already been looking around for cold case lists, you might be using search terms such as unsolved murders USA or strange cases of unsolved disappearances. . The case was under investigation for 52 years; her daughter later put an ad in the paper of missing mother, and someone did reply that she has seen her mother. Shock. Of course, she eventually found out she was the one they were looking for and she told the authorities she was safe and sound. In another case of missing people found, Barbara was lying on the ground 300 feet from the car, unable to move, and little La'Myra was right by her side. Another missing persons case that was solved in 2021 is that of Kara Vaughn who disappeared more than 25 years ago. Dig deeper Lucy Ann Johnson went missing in 1961, leaving behind her seven-year-old daughter, Linda Evans. They only recently learned about her past. After investigation, it was found that Carlos De Salazar was suffering from depression and became a hermit. I hope shes enjoyed some great days in her life. The couple took away all clothes and bolted her into a wooden lean-to in the garden, telling her vicious dogs were guarding the door. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. If you have information about anyone on this page, call 305-715-3300 or call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477). While in captivity, she was repeatedly raped and assaulted. Suspicious of her Pettway's refusal to answer any questions about her birth mother, she went to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for help.