Wife Declared Dead After Vanishing Found Alive 31 Years Later
A woman who vanished from her home in North Hills, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been found 31 years later in Puerto Rico.
Patricia Kopta disappeared without a trace on June 20, 1992. Initially, her husband Bob wasn’t overly concerned due to her free-spirited nature and eccentric behavior.
Patricia, a well-known street preacher in Pittsburgh, claimed to see visions of the Virgin Mary and often warned strangers of an impending nuclear Armageddon. She was nicknamed “The Sparrow” due to her short stature and unsteady walk.
Bob reported her missing on November 27, 1992, noting that Patricia often disappeared for periods of time.
Police did not suspect foul play, but Patricia was classified as a critical missing person, prompting an urgent search.
Her family believed she might have traveled to Puerto Rico, a place she had visited before marriage. Despite efforts, including hiring a psychic and placing ads in Puerto Rican newspapers, the search yielded no results, and seven years later, she was declared legally dead.
In 2023, Patricia, now 83, was discovered in a nursing home in Puerto Rico. She had been taken in as a “person in need” in June 1999 after being found wandering aimlessly.
Due to dementia, Patricia eventually revealed details about her past, leading a social worker to contact authorities in Pennsylvania. DNA tests confirmed her identity.
Bob, 86, expressed relief upon hearing the news, saying, “It’s a sad thing, but it’s a relief off my mind. When your wife goes missing, you’re a suspect.”
Ross Township Deputy Police Chief Brian Kohlhepp suggested that Patricia’s mental state might have driven her to flee from Pittsburgh to Puerto Rico.
Born in Ross Township, Patricia had been a straight-A student, a model, a dance instructor, and an elevator operator at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh before her mental health declined in 1984. She lost her job and began wandering the city streets, preaching as one of God’s “bondservants.”
Wife Declared Dead After Vanishing Found Alive 31 Years Later
Her husband Bob noticed her mental health deteriorating in the early 1980s, and she was diagnosed with “delusions of grandeur” and possibly schizophrenia. Concerned about being institutionalized, she might have fled the country.
Bob, reflecting on the past 31 years, said, “After 30 years, you try to forget about it. Now, I can forget about it. We know what happened, and she is taken care of now.
She could have come home any time. But that’s what she wanted. She always said she wanted to go to a warm climate.”
Patricia’s sister Gloria rushed to Puerto Rico upon confirmation of her identity. “We’re very thankful to know that Patty is alive and well,” Gloria said. “She’s being well taken care of. We really thought she was dead all those years. It was a very big shock to know that she’s still alive.”
Details about Patricia’s activities during the 31 years remain unclear, though it’s believed she roamed the northern towns of Puerto Rico.
She told locals she arrived on a cruise ship from Europe. The name of her nursing home has not been disclosed, but a photo of her taken at the home has been shared.
Wife Declared Dead After Vanishing Found Alive 31 Years Later
