Patricia Kopta: After 31 long years of being declared dead, a woman who went missing in 1992 was discovered alive in a nursing home in Puerto Rico.
Patricia Kopta, a street preacher who went by the name “Sparrow,” was reported missing by her family in Ross Township, Pennsylvania. According to Deputy Police Chief Brian Kohlhepp, leads in her case had been pursued throughout the years.
Kopta, now 83 years old, was discovered wandering in northern Puerto Rico seven years after she went missing.
She was then transported to a nursing facility as a “person in need” because she has dementia. Kohlhepp stated that Kopta had previously kept certain aspects of her life private, but as time passed, she started sharing information.
By the end of 2022, Kopta had provided enough details to a social worker at the nursing facility, who then notified Pennsylvania authorities about her identity.
Kohlhepp said that a DNA test was conducted and it verified that the missing woman was indeed Patricia Kopta.
It was discovered that Kopta had fled the country because she was concerned about being institutionalized.
She had dropped hints about coming to Puerto Rico on a cruise ship from Europe when she was originally taken to the nursing home.
Kopta briefly stayed at a facility before going missing after being diagnosed with “delusions of grandeur” and showing signs of schizophrenia, according to the Houston Chronicle.
After being discharged, she continued preaching until she went missing. She explored the northern Puerto Rican communities of Naranjito, Corozal, and Toa Alta, which are all close to the city of San Juan.
Kopta’s husband, Robert, who is 86 years old, said that he had been married to her for 20 years before she went missing.
He stated that his relatives thought she might be in Puerto Rico, so he posted advertisements in Puerto Rican newspapers and contacted a psychic to try to locate her.
Almost 25 years ago, the retired electrician said that his wife was declared dead by authorities. Every time the police found a body, he was terrified it might be his wife.
Now, after 31 years of being declared dead, Kopta has been found alive in a nursing home in Puerto Rico.
In conclusion, the discovery of Patricia Kopta after 31 years of being declared dead is a miraculous event.
Her husband’s dedication and perseverance in finding her, even after being declared dead, is commendable. This news has brought relief to the Kopta family, who can now be reunited with their loved one.