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Missing woman found safe in Georgia, thanks to Good Samaritan

Edwards was reported missing on Thursday after she failed to show up to assist her son, who had called her for help after having car trouble in Colleton County.

Hattie Edwards, 86, missing for several days from Springfield has been found safe, according to Orangeburg County deputies.

Orangeburg County sheriff Leroy Ravenel announced Sunday that Edwards was found late Saturday, after having been missing since Thursday.

"I am absolutely thrilled to announce Mrs. Edwards has been located and arrangements are being made to bring her home," the sheriff said. "She was located on Saturday night by a concerned citizen who notified law enforcement."

Ravenell says Edwards was located just before 11 p.m. at a hotel near Eastman, Georgia, where a Good Samaritan saw what appeared to be a distressed senior in the parking lot. A woman approached Edwards to ask if she needed help. Once she determined Edwards was in need of assistance, the woman and hotel staff called relatives of Mrs. Edwards and law enforcement, according to deputies.

When law enforcement arrived at the hotel and ran Mrs. Edwards' information through NCIC, deputies say they found Edwards was reported missing by the Orangburg County Sheriff's Office. Investigators in Georgia then contacted the Orangburg County Sheriff's Office to say they had Mrs. Edwards with them. Eastman is located about an hour southeast of Macon.

Edwards' family is making preparations to return the mother and grandmother to South Carolina.

Edwards had been reported missing on Thursday after she failed to show up to assist her son, who had called her for help after having car trouble in Colleton County, SC.

She left her home around 10 a.m., but when she never showed up to help her stranded son hours later, her family reported her missing to deputies.

Edwards had last been seen around noon Thursday at Love’s Truck Stop on Highway 301, where a Good Samaritan let Edwards use his phone when he noticed she seemed upset. She told the man she was trying to find her son and had gotten lost.

The man at the gas station and the victim’s son – via the his phone – gave the woman new directions in an effort to help her get to where she was going. The man told deputies he thought Edwards understood the directions.

Ravenell says the extensive search for Edwards turned towards Georgia when investigators received tips that her vehicle may have been spotted in Georgia. Then around 11 p.m. Saturday, word was passed on that she had been located.

Deputies say that all of the details of Edwards' whereabouts and routes traveled are not known at this time.

"We're just so thankful she's been located and not harmed and on her way home, where she's surrounded by family and loved ones," Ravenell said.

"We do want to thank the Orangeburg County community, our friends on social media who generated nearly 150,000 people reached, the concerned citizens and law enforcement in Georgia, and the media for sharing this in an effort to locate our neighbor and matriarch, "says Ravenell . "Today, I am so proud to call myself a part of Orangeburg County, a part of this community, a part of you."

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