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A three-day search for a Florida woman who went missing in one of the more remote, rural regions of South Carolina is over… with Palmetto State law enforcement officials announcing that 27-year-old Jessica Rapsys had been found alive.
In a press release issued on Friday (August 16, 2024) on behalf of the Allendale County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced that Rapsys had been located “safe” in Allendale County.
Rapsys had last been seen in the Allendale area on the evening of August 13, 2024 – sometime between 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. EST. She was on her way to visit her aunt, reportedly, but “got lost while on her way.”
“Her aunt was trying to meet her halfway, but Jessica never showed up,” a missing persons flyer posted in the aftermath of Rapsys’ disappearance noted.
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Multiple Lowcountry sources – including a local radio station – are reporting 27-year-old Jessica Rapsys has been found “alive and well.” Awaiting official law enforcement confirmation. #MissingPersons
— FITSNews (@fitsnews) August 16, 2024
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A frantic search began on Tuesday evening at approximately 9:15 p.m. EDT, after Rapsys’ vehicle was discovered by authorities with the keys still inside it near Martin, S.C. – an unincorporated community centered approximately four miles northeast of the South Carolina-Georgia border. Rapsys’ vehicle was discovered near the railroad tracks on private property belonging to Creek Plantation, a 14,000-acre horse, cattle and timber concern which straddles the banks of the Savannah.
Her vehicle was still “warm,” according to police… but Rapsys was nowhere to be found.
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Three helicopters – including two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) aircraft stationed at the nearbyMis Savannah River Site – searched for five-and-a-half hours for Rapsys on Wednesday to no avail. The search continued through Friday when it was announced shortly before noon that she had been located.
The press release noted, “The Allendale County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank everyone who helped with the search, including: the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Department of Energy Savannah River Site Security Services, and the owners of Creek Plantation.”
“Finding Jessica was a team effort,” Allendale County sheriff James Freeman said in a statement. “We all worked together and did not give up hope.”
Rapsys is being transported to a local hospital where she will be evaluated and provided any necessary medical treatment.
Rapsys’ family released a brief statement through SLED, extending their “deepest thanks to everyone who helped find Jessica.” The statement added that the family was requesting “privacy at this time.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Jenn Wood is FITSNews’ incomparable research director. She’s also the producer of the FITSFiles and Cheer Incorporated podcasts and leading expert on all things Murdaugh/ South Carolina justice. A former private investigator with a criminal justice degree, evildoers beware, Jenn Wood is far from your average journalist! A deep dive researcher with a passion for truth and a heart for victims, this mom of two is pretty much a superhero in FITSNews country. Did we mention she’s married to a rocket scientist? (Lucky guy!) Got a story idea or a tip for Jenn? Email her at jenn@fitsnews.com.
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7 comments
I’m so glad she was found safe. I had feared the worst. I respect the family’s request for privacy, but I have to wonder what the heck happened to separate her from her car and her phone. Sometimes, I have to remind myself to mind my own business.
“I have to wonder what the heck happened to separate her from her car and her phone.”
Phones and vehicles can potentially be tracked via GPS.
I’m not trying to speculate that this is why, just throwing it out there that this would be one potential explanation.
Tracking is what I assume was the reason for separating her from her phone. I guess my question is whether she did it voluntarily to avoid being tracked, or if someone else didn’t want her being tracked.
Sounds like she was meeting up with a “friend” and wanted some privacy
Glad she is safe. An awful lot of resources were used if she was just meeting a “friend”
Sounds like she was suffering from Jungle Fever.
…lost on the way to her aunt’s house.
In an era where Google Maps/Apple Maps is automatically on your phone AND most modern cars have GPS AND the presumption that she had already been there AND the ability to text and ask for information barring the above. And a 27-year old is not going to just abandon their phone.
Sounds fishy, frankly. But of course, no details. If it were a male, there’d a full synopsis of what happened.