By Monica Land
LONGVIEW, Tx. – A woman first reported missing in April by her employer and family, and later accused of embezzlement, has been arrested in Longview, Texas.
After more than seven months and much speculation, Copiah County Sheriff Harold Jones says Linda Gale Reed is in his custody.
The sheriff said during a news conference Thursday that Reed was working as a bookkeeper in Longview. She was picked up during a routine traffic stop. Jones said Reed was using her real name and social security number.
Jones said his department knew where Reed was before she was picked up on the traffic stop.
The 65-year-old woman had been missing since April 29.
Reed's daughter tells WLBT the entire family is “ecstatic” her mother has been found alive.
Earlier this month, Jones said Reed's status had changed from missing to wanted for embezzlement. An independent audit, along with a federal investigation revealed money missing from the petty cash fund of the business where she was employed, WLBT reported.
At the time she disappeared, Reed was working as a bookkeeper for Moore’s Fabrications in Gallman.
Reed left work about 7 p.m. on April 29 telling her co-workers she was going to Wal-Mart and she’d be “right back.”
She was never seen again.
Surveillance video from Wal-Mart showed Reed leaving the store about 9:30 p.m., but there was no information as to where she went from there.
The next day, her vehicle, a GMC Envoy SUV, was found in Crystal Springs, hidden deep in the woods off the side of I-55, authorities said.
Inside the Envoy was Reed’s purse, credit cards, and the $60 police said she withdrew from Wal-Mart. Also inside was a fake tooth from a partial, although there appeared to be no signs of a struggle or trauma.
A short distance from the vehicle, a blanket was found along with Reed’s cell phone and glasses.
Authorities again said there were no signs of a struggle.
Volunteers from all over, including Texas, joined in the search for Reed and a $20,000 reward for the ‘missing’ woman was offered.
Reed’s story was also featured on “America’s Most Wanted.”
