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A three-day search for a missing Florida woman – 27-year-old Jessica Rapsys of Jacksonville – ended with her being found alive and “safe” in Allendale County, South Carolina last week.
Given how such stories often end, that’s an outcome worth celebrating. But how did Rapsys wind up in this remote, rural corner of South Carolina? And what happened to her during the roughly 60 hours she went missing?
Despite being the focus of an extensive, high-profile search involving helicopters, bloodhounds and dozens of law enforcement officers – a search which attracted national media attention – Rapsys and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are still shrouded in mystery. Her family has requested privacy, while the agencies which worked frantically to find her have stayed tight-lipped.
As previously reported, Rapsys went missing on the evening of Tuesday, August 13, 2024 – having last been seen in the Allendale area sometime between 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. EDT. Rapsys was on her way to visit her aunt, flyers posted following her disappearance stated, but “got lost while on her way.”
“Her aunt was trying to meet her halfway, but Jessica never showed up,” the flyer noted.
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Concerns escalated when Jessica’s car was found at 9:15 p.m. EDT on Tuesday evening near Martin, S.C. – an unincorporated community centered approximately four miles northeast of the 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 – with its keys reportedly still in the ignition – but Rapsys was nowhere to be found. Her shoes and cell phone were found on the railroad tracks near her vehicle.
The massive search effort involved multiple agencies, including the Allendale County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), and the Department of Energy’s (USDOE) Savannah River Site Security Services. Yet, the nature of Rapsys’s disappearance remains a mystery.
So far, all we know is local law enforcement authorities were preparing to hold a press conference updating the public on the status of the search when they received a dispatch call from SLED alerting them that Rapsys had been located on Creek Plantation.
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Rapsys was retrieved by authorities from the back seat of a pickup truck, covered in bug bites. Sources familiar with the situation say she flagged the vehicle down after emerging from a wooded area.
At approximately 10:45 a.m. EDT on Friday morning – more than 60 hours after she was last seen – Rapsys was transported to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation.
Local authorities stated no foul play was involved in her disappearance, and sources familiar with the situation confirmed to this outlet there was “no evidence of an abduction.” Obviously, those are positive outcomes – but they add further intrigue to the case.
FITSNews has reached out to the agencies involved in Rapsys’ recovery for more information, but so far, those requests have been deferred. In an effort to shed more light on the situation, we are submitting Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in an attempt to gather additional information – including the cost of the search operation.
Stay tuned for updates…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Callie Lyons is a journalist, researcher and author. Her 2007 book ‘Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal’ was the first to cover forever chemicals and their impact on communities – a story later told in the movie ‘Dark Waters’. Her investigative work has been featured in media outlets, publications, and documentaries all over the world. Lyons also appears in ‘Citizen Sleuth’ – a 2023 documentary exploring the genre of true crime.
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5 comments
I hope your quest for information bears fruit. Yes, there is something very odd about this case and the cone of silence surrounding it.
If public funds were utilized in the search, (and we know they were) information should be released about this case.
I’d definitely (out of concern and also curiosity) would like to know what happened from the time her car was found until she walked out flagging down for help.
I commented, shared and prayed for this young girl.
My guess is mental illness – possibly a first break psychotic episode?
What I was thinking.