A Fairfax County woman who was reported missing after she left her home on July 5 was found Sunday “in relatively good health,” police say.
Margaret R. Podell, 49, had gone without her medication and was described by police as possibly confused and fearful of others. She was found in a wooded area near her home on the 9700 block of Kings Crown Court after being lost for more than two weeks.
The search, which at its inception involved police officers and a volunteer canine search and rescue team, originally was unsuccessful, according to Fairfax County Police spokeswoman Mary Mulrenan. She said the case eventually was assigned to a single detective.
Mulrenan would offer no explanation as to why Podell left her residence, the nature of her medical condition or how she survived during the period.
Police were able to locate her by helicopter after receiving a tip from a citizen, who had seen a missing person flyer describing the woman.
