A Pennsylvania lady who vanished greater than three a long time in the past and was declared legally useless, was discovered alive in a Puerto Rico nursing dwelling, her household and police stated.
Patricia Kopta disappeared in 1992, and through the years, investigators had pursued leads in her disappearance, Ross Township Deputy Police Chief Brian Kohlhepp stated Friday.
Earlier than she went lacking from her dwelling north of Pittsburgh, Kopta was identified to be an “eccentric” avenue preacher who glided by “Sparrow,” the chief stated.
Seven years after she disappeared, Kopta, who’s now 83, was taken as a “particular person in want” to a nursing dwelling after she had been discovered meandering by northern Puerto Rico, Kohlhepp instructed reporters at a information convention Thursday.
She had saved particulars about her life secret, however because the years handed Kopta, who has dementia, started divulging info, Kohlhepp stated.
By final 12 months, Kopta had revealed sufficient info {that a} social employee on the nursing dwelling contacted authorities in Pennsylvania about her id. A DNA take a look at confirmed it was the lacking lady, Kohlhepp stated.
“She was involved she was going to be institutionalized,” Kohlhepp stated Friday. “Which is what we imagine led her to resolve to flee the nation.”
Earlier than her disappearance, Kopta was at a facility briefly after medical doctors identified her with “delusions of grandeur” and stated she had indicators of schizophrenia. She was launched and saved preaching till she disappeared, her household stated.
In Puerto Rico, she wandered the island’s northern cities of Naranjito, Corozal and Toa Alta, situated simply southwest of the capital of San Juan. When she first was taken to the grownup dwelling, she had hinted that she had arrived in Puerto Rico through a cruise ship from Europe, Kohlhepp stated.
Bob Kopta, 86, of Pittsburgh, stated Friday that he had been married for 20 years when his spouse disappeared. He stated his household suspected she could also be in Puerto Rico. Over time, Bob Kopta stated he had positioned a newspaper commercial in Puerto Rico to attempt to discover her and had consulted with a psychic about her whereabouts.
Kopta, a retired electrician, stated his spouse was declared useless about 25 years in the past.
“It’s a aid realizing that she’s not laying in a ditch someplace, or murdered someplace,” he stated, saying each time native police found a physique he frightened it was his spouse.
Patricia Kopta additionally had two sisters — a twin, who died six years in the past, and a youthful sister who was relieved to study she’s nonetheless alive, Bob Kopta stated.
He added that all through the a long time, he’s skilled a spread of feelings, however is content material realizing that Patricia is alive and below the care of pros.
“After 30 years, you attempt to neglect about it. Now I can neglect about it. We all know what occurred, and he or she is taken care of now,” he stated.
Patricia Kopta labored as an elevator operator at The Artwork Institute of Pittsburgh earlier than she disappeared, Bob Kopta stated.
She had been a straight-A pupil who turned a mannequin and dance teacher. After graduating highschool, she labored in finance at a Pittsburgh plate glass firm and would attend ballroom dancing occasions weekly, based on her household.
Patricia Kopta’s youthful sister, Gloria Smith, now 78, instructed The Related Press, her sister vacationed typically in Puerto Rico with associates earlier than she obtained married. “She simply liked the ocean, the seashore, the nice and cozy sunshine.”
Smith stated she hopes to go to her sister, despite the fact that she is in a declined psychological state.
“Whether or not she is aware of me or not, I nonetheless wish to see her and provides her a hug and inform her I really like her,” Smith stated. “I assumed perhaps she had died.”
