A Pennsylvania woman who disappeared more than 30 years ago and was believed to be dead by her family was recently found living in a nursing home in Puerto Rico, her family and police said at a news conference on Thursday 2nd March 2023.
Patricia Kopta, who is now 83 years old, was last seen in Pittsburgh in the summer of 1992, according to a missing person flier posted by the Pennsylvania Emergency Response Center.
Her husband, Bob Kopta, reported her missing a few months later. At the time, he advised authorities that it wasn’t uncommon for his wife to “drop out of sight for short periods.”
“I come home one night and she’s gone, and nobody knew where she was,” Kopta said at the news conference with Ross Township Police.
However, Patricia was recently discovered living in an adult care home in Puerto Rico, where she is being treated for dementia.
The police were informed about the discovery of the missing woman when an agent from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and a social worker from Puerto Rico contacted them last year.
According to Ross Township Deputy Chief Brian Kohlhepp, Patricia was found wandering the streets and was admitted to the care home in 1999. She refused to discuss her private life or where she came from, Kohlhepp said.
Patricia eventually revealed some details of her past, which prompted those around her to contact Ross police.
Her family and authorities were stunned by the discovery and are now working to reunite her with her loved ones.
Cases, where missing persons are found alive after such a long time, are rare, making this a particularly exceptional case.
