A missing Pennsylvania woman who was previously declared dead has been found alive and living in an adult care home - more than three decades after her initial disappearance.
As reported by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Patricia Kopta - a former street preacher known as "The Sparrow" - was reported missing without a trace from the North Hills by her husband back in 1992.
However, Ross Township Deputy Police Chief Brian Kohlhepp has revealed that his department was contacted by an Interpol agent and social worker who said they had found Kopta living in a care facility - 1,700 miles away in Puerto Rico, per CBS News.
Police have said that the now 83-year-old Kopta was formally identified by a DNA test, which revealed that she was the missing Pennsylvania woman.
CBS News reports that Patricia was taken into the Puerto Rico care home in 1999 after she was found in need of care.
Officials say she initially refused to discuss details of her personal life, but revealed that she first came to Puerto Rico on a cruise ship from Europe. (At this time, investigators are unsure if this story is true and if she was ever in Europe.)
Chief Kohlhepp added that, over time, Patricia would share more and more details about her life prior to her arrival in Puerto Rico, which led to authorities being contacted.
"As she asked and spoke more, she leaked enough details about her identity that they were able to connect enough dots to contact us," Kohlhepp said during a press conference on Thursday.
Speaking to the Post-Gazette, Patricia's sister, Gloria Smith, spoke out about her sibling being found alive after 31 years.
"We're very thankful to know that Patty is alive and well," Smith said, admitting that she always feared being told that her sister would be found dead. "It was hard on all of us because my mother, her sister and myself worried about her constantly," Smith added.
Patricia's husband, Robert Kopta, revealed that the pair were married for nearly 20 years before her disappearance.
He said: "She could have come home at any time. She always said she wanted to go to a warm climate."
The family did say that Patricia - or "Patty", as she was fondly called by loved ones - had struggled with mental health issues prior to her disappearance. They had theorized that she may have been institutionalized.
Robert revealed that Patricia's early life had been rather ordinary; she enjoyed ballroom dancing, was a Roman Catholic, and had worked several jobs. But in the years prior to her disappearance, she claimed that the mother of God had warned her of a nuclear Armageddon, and she took to the streets to spread her message.
"She would always hang out down in Pittsburgh where things were going on. When there was a baseball game going on, when a concert was going on, she would be talking to people," Robert said.
Sadly, it has been revealed that Patricia is now suffering from dementia, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Nevertheless, the family is excited to finally reunite with Patricia and is planning on seeing her once again in person.
If you or anybody you know is struggling with mental health, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Speaking to somebody will always help.
