Update: Missing woman found safe in WV

WINCHESTER – On January 12, 2017, officers with the Winchester Police located a missing woman who was the subject of a Virginia State Police Senior Alert.  Around 9:45 a.m., Catherine Hemlepp, 80, was found safe at a Best Western hotel in Bridgeport, WV, approximately 3 hours from Winchester, VA. Officers with the Winchester Police Department are currently in route to WV and will transport her back to Winchester to reunite with her husband.

Mrs. Hemlepp suffers from dementia, and was believed to be in danger. She was reported missing on January 11, 2017.  She and her husband were traveling from Pennsylvania to South Carolina on January 10th.  Her husband stated that he lost track of his wife, who was driving a separate car, on Old Dominion Road in Fairfax, VA around 12:30 P.M.  Around 12:00 A.M. on January 11th, contact was made with Catherine via telephone. She stated that she was staying at the Shenandoah Motel in Winchester, VA; however this hotel does not exist in Winchester City for Frederick County, VA.  Hotels in the city of Winchester and Frederick County were checked with negative contact, and her cellphone had been cut off.

Officers with the Winchester Police Department worked around the clock to locate Mrs. Hemlepp.  They worked with law enforcement agencies in multiple states to check rest areas, parking lots and hotels.  Officers were able to locate her after confirming a purchase had been made with her credit card in Bridgeport, WV.

The Winchester Police Department would like to thank the community for spreading awareness of Mrs. Hemlepp’s disappearance.  We would also like to extend our appreciation to several partner law enforcement agencies that helped follow up on leads and search for Mrs. Hemlepp. The Department would also like to recognize Lt. Amanda Behan, with the Winchester Police Department, for her dedication and tireless efforts to solve this case and successfully reunite the couple.