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. He said she had some mental health issues and talked about wanting to go to Puerto Rico where it was warm. There are nearly 90,000 missing persons in the U.S. alone, at any given time. The British soldier, who had always been desperate to join the SAS but had been rejected twice, was posing as author Tom Carew and being interviewed about his 2001 book, Jihad! Police considered it a murder case but it went cold. Years later, with dementia, she started to divulge some details that connected the dots back to Ross Township. Unfortunately, he passed away in an accident when he was 24 years old. After a custody battle, Benjamin Harris Todd won custody of his daughter, Savanna Todd, when he claimed his wife was bi-polar and abusive. 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. Hed originally told his relatives he was looking for construction jobs but eventually made his way down to Florida instead. Clossunderwent care at a local hospital. She remained married to an old person for 21 years and then managed to escape. Her mother Dorothy Barnett kidnapped her, left the country, and settled in Queensland, Australia. Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus were thought to be dead after being kidnapped by sex fiend Ariel Castro and held at his Ohio home for up to 11 years. Subsequently, Bobby Hernandez was arrested and tried in court for kidnapping. He left at 31 and she at 18. Though many of the cases are resolved, approximately 85-90% of those cases are children under the age of eighteen. Some of the most famous cold cases solved by DNA technology include the Golden State Killer and the Boston Strangler. For nearly two decades, Dugard frequently raped by Garrido and gave birth to two daughters by him during her captivity. In January 2017, they were found alive and well in the Houston, Texas and their mother was arrested. In reality, he dosed her and took her to Mexico, where he then married her. The best place to start when researching a cold case are the case files. In August 1984, Josef Fritzl lured his daughter Elisabeth into the basement of their family home in Amstetten, Austria. ATM thieves use glue and 'tap' function to drain accounts at Chase, Big Bear begins running out food and fuel as ski resorts remain open, Do not to buy Raspberry Rally cookies from eBay, Girl Scouts say. Have you ever wondered about missing people that were mysteriously found alive? In the United States alone there are over 200,000 unsolved cold cases, some of which are recent cold cases, others have been unsolved, or labeled as cold for decades. He suffered a head injury and lost his memory. I didnt believe it. Paula Jean Welden disappeared in the "Bennington Triangle" in 1946. A wife and a mother of two kids, Judith Bello, went missing with her car in Washington. A news crew in Maine, US, reporting on a missing 73-year-old man were shocked when the man in question emerged from the bushes behind them. Sounds like my retirement plan. In 2002, a former handyman, hired by Smart's parents, broke into their home. Apparently, Johnsons husband had been abusive and had multiple affairs. He had no idea how much time had passed until he bought a newspaper and saw the date. On the other hand, more commonly, missing people are found much more often, although you may not see much media attention once a previously missing person is found. The record for the oldest open missing persons case on the books of the Metropolitan Police dates all the way back to 1959. Marco, Sylvia, and Miriam disappeared that day without a trace. (3.1). We didn't expect it. Missing Pennsylvania woman found alive after 31 years. A Pennsylvania woman who has been missing for more than 30 years is found alive in an adult care home in Puerto Rico. There has been no indication of Kopta's whereabouts since 1992, and the circumstances of her disappearance are unclear. Some recently solved cold cases in 2019 using advanced DNA technology includes the 1972 murder of Jody Loomis, the 1993 murder of Sophie Sergie, and the 1988 murder of Alice Haynsworth Ryan, among many others. Kotpa was found to be in need of care on June 30, 1999. Patricia Kopta's husband reported her missing from the North Hills in 1992. Her abductor, Brian Mitchell, took her to an encampment in the woods where his partner Wanda Barzee forced her to change into a robe. Now more than 30 years later, they got the news they never thought they would hear. The family of Philip Sessarego thought he had been dead for ten years - until he popped up on TV. Two weeks later, rescuers found her with minor injuries, 15 pounds lighter, and otherwise in stable condition. 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 in Puerto Rico, Ross Township Police Deputy Chief Brian Kohlhepp said. Yuma PD. During the investigation, it was found that she gave birth to two daughters and developed a case of Stockholm syndrome. Instead of sticking there, she went to a karaoke bar with her friends and met a woman who trafficked them. When the investigators arrived, he disappeared again, as he did not want to be rediscovered. Reagan had completely gutted the US mental health care system just a few years before she disappeared. After 21 years, she came home and shared this story with her parents. If you have information about anyone on this page, call 305-715-3300 or call Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477). Bob Kopta is not the only family member shocked by the news. And most cases will remain cold, as people disappear into different lives, some filled with unimaginable terrors. Kopta's family believes she took a flight to Puerto Rico after her disappearance, spent a week or two there, then returned to Pittsburgh. Here are 15 people who everyone thought were dead, but were found alive after decades. https://charleyproject.org/case/patricia-gail-kopta. Millions of people are reported missing each year - with 415,000 reported in the UK alone in 2019 - and most are found safe and well within 48 hours. Home - People - 25 Missing People That Were Mysteriously Found Alive, Posted by Jason, Updated on November 22, 2022. When there was a baseball game going on, when a concert was going on, she would be talking to people," Robert Kopta said about his wife. Lists of fascinating and bizarre real cases that continue to stump detectives and amateur sleuths. It sounds like her husband suspected her to be schizophrenic, I have no idea if she received treatment before her disappearance. Cant believe I came across this post and its about our little hometown. She had left the tour to change clothes, and when she returned, no one recognized her. Kopta was last seen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 20, 1992. Eventually, he was declared dead. He never managed to live a normal life after this incident. Steve Carter, 35, always knew something didnt add up with his childhood. The Clearinghouse provides a nationwide, toll-free hotline to receive tips on the whereabouts of missing persons. Its sad, but short of holding him against his will I dont know what else they could do. I didnt recall that shed disappeared, though. But, of course, we all know thats not the end of the story. Arthur Gerald Jones disappeared in Chicago in 1979 - but was found alive (Image: Arthur Gerald Jones / Chicago Police Dept) Read More Related Articles. It was in 1991 when 11-year-old Jaycee went missing outside from her home. Kopta was declared legally dead years ago. 1:24; We have an acquaintance from school that clearly has some mental issues. Marco's body was found a week later in the Elbe river, and he had a concrete block attached to his legs with rope. 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. jhayes@post-gazette.com. The best chances of success involve the factors of time, . 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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Angelica Gaitan was found floating in the sea and unconscious earlier this week, Philip Sessarego was a 'fantasist' who had been rejected by the SAS, Sessarego was exposed by the BBC after claiming to be SAS man Tom Carew, Lula Cora Hood disappeared from her home in 1970, Grace Kivisto, left, with her cousin who is holding a picture of her mother as a young woman, Jaycee Dugard disappeared at 11 on her way to school, Phillip Garrido and his wife Nancy held Jaycee captive in a shed behind the house, Jaycee Dugard was finally rescued after 18 years, Norm Karkos was filming an appeal for help on a local news channel, Robert McDonough wandered into shot and introduced himself, ROBERT McDonough, 75, who had been missing for 14 hours was found after approached news team reporting from the scene, Steven Kubacki went missing at Lake Michigan in 1978, Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her home at 14, Elizabeth Smart was finally rescued after nine months, Brian Mitchell claimed he was an angel sent to slay the anti-Christ, Carlina White grew up as Netty Nance after being abducted, Carlina's parents Joy and Carl after their daughter was stolen, Carlina in the hospital before she disappeared, Carlina is reunited with her biological mum Joy at 23, Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus were all held captive, Evil Ariel Castro kept the three women in locked rooms. While it seemed a promising lead, after two decades, Asha has still never been found, and no one has been charged in connection with her disappearance. Its really sad to see (what a layman like me would call) clear signs her schizophrenia symptoms were unmanageable - convincing visions, disappearing without explanation, paranoia. Police considered it a murder case but it went cold. He had been fleeing the mob and lived in several parts of the country with different names and fake IDs. ROSS TWP., Pennsylvania -- A Pennsylvania woman missing for more than three decades has been found alive in Puerto Rico. Well, the topic is not startling as this kind of thing happens very often. Natasha Yi, the wife of Wild 94.9 host Jeffrey Vandergrift who has been reported missing for six days, said recently discovered information "leads us to believe JV will not be coming back." Police initially suspected the girl's non-custodial parents, but did . Knight, aged 20, disappeared in August 2003 after being lured into his home to look at a puppy and was tied up beaten and raped before being locked in a room without food. 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. But she is not the only one who has turned up after disappearing for years - or even decades - and being presumed dead. Especially since hes not technically hurting himself or anyone else. I live in this part of Pittsburgh. List25 is a registered trademark. According to CNN, Closs approached a woman who was walking her dog around 5pmon January 10, 2019, in Gordon, Wisconsin. Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. I even put advertisements down in the paper in Puerto Rico looking for her.. Elisabeth's mother filed a missing person report, not knowing that her child was being held in captivity only metres away. He suffered from mental health issues, including having a mental capacity of a 12-year-old. Too often, so much time goes by that they have to give up and declare the person dead. Shortly after, she was arrested and Savanna learned the truth. Further investigations revealed Hood, who suffered from mental illness all her life, was alive and living with a new family in Florida. Arthur Gerald Jones, a Chicago trader, up and vanished in 1979, leaving behind his wife and three kids. Many of her family hoped theyd find her again and never gave up hope. As Manhattan private investigator Darrin Giglio tells us, most missing person cases are resolved within the first 96 hours. After searching for many years, he was declared dead in 2010. The entire time it was considered a cold case murder, but in 2009, an investigator located them alive and well. ", Happy to be where she belonged, Carlina said: "When I look at [Joy], I can see me. When she came around, she told doctors she had been fleeing an abusive relationship when she left the family home and had been living in a hostel - but had no explanation as to why she was in the middle of the sea. He was kidnapped by Kenneth Parnell, a convicted pedophile, who told Steven Stayner to call him Dad. The ship was searched from top to bottom. 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, a second grader in 1972, was walking home from school one day and completely vanished. Missing people found alive are stories that capture the nation's attention whenever they break. Kelly Ann and Kimberly Ann Yates (32 years missing): Kelly, 10 months, and Kimberly, 3, were abducted by their non-custodial mother from Warwick, Rhode Island on August 26, 1985. Police said she refused to discuss her personal life and told people she came to Puerto Rico on a cruise ship from Europe. The two other girls were abducted over the next two years, locked in separate rooms, often chained to a wall and frequently raped by Castro. Using their database of missing children, they discovered that her real name was Carlina White and she had been abducted as a newborn baby, nineteen days after her birth, from Harlem Hospital in New York. 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. She left her Point Place home between 8-9 pm in her white 1978 Honda Civic without her diabetes medication and less than $10 in cash. The two contacted the authorities, and then the investigation was done. While none of that worked, she was right where he thought she might be. 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 rescue untcomprised of Thai Navy SEALS, technical experts from around the globe,and prayingcitizens all contributed to the effort. ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPXI) - A Pennsylvania man who has been searching for his wife for over 30 years has just learned that she is alive and well and has been living in Puerto Rico for decades. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. Eryn Jo Gray (6 years missing): Eryn, 4, was abducted by her non . Parnel abused him and gave him drugs and alcohol. While there she refused to discuss her private life or where she came from, he said. But, then Savanna disappeared. It was only when he stopped to speak to the crew that Karkos realised who he was. She was described as 160 cm Asian, who was wearing dark clothing and could speak English well. When he was five years old, his father took him away from his mother in Alabama. Nearly three months after her parents were shot and killed in their Wisconsin home on October 15, 2018, investigators found theirmissing daughter, 13-year-old Jayme Closs, more than 60 miles away from where she disappeared the night of their murder. 15 Lucy Johnson (Over 51 Years) Lucy Johnson's disappearance was weird since although her neighbor last saw her alive back in September of 1961, her husband didn't report the case until May of 1965. She walked throughout the city, approaching strangers and telling them she'd had a vision of the Virgin Mary and that the world was about to end. When he sat in a bus running to Niagara falls, he hurt his head and suffered from amnesia. Her mother, Iquilla Degree, said in 2020: After 20 years, I still believe my daughter is alive. She came up to me many times when I was a teen to tell me the end was coming. Only 14 years old, Smart was taken from her home for 9 months. They were forced to marry older people in China. Cantellop attributed Eller's ability to survive to her experience with nature. Although this number is startling, and seems to be rising every year, cold cases are continuing to be solved every year due in part to advancements in forensics and DNA technology.