Pa. woman who disappeared in 2002 found in Fla.

May 01 2013

LITITZ, Pa. (AP) — Police in central Pennsylvania say a woman who disappeared after dropping off her children for school 11 years ago has been located in Florida after traveling there with homeless hitchhikers and sleeping beneath bridges.

Police in Lititz, Pa., planned a news conference Wednesday to discuss the case of Brenda Heist.

Three years ago, her husband asked Lancaster County courts to declare her legally dead.

Authorities say Heist turned herself in last week to police in Key Largo, Fla., and say she's been living in Key West.

In 2002, Heist left behind an 8-year-old daughter who's now a college sophomore and a 12-year-old son who recently graduated from college.

It was not immediately clear what Heist had been doing during the last decade.

Since publication of this story a recent photo of the missing mom has been made available.