COLUMBIA, SC — Authorities in Richland County say an 82-year-old woman who had been reported missing was later found safe after the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division issued an Endangered Person Alert overnight.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said Alice Rawls disappeared after leaving the area of Parkridge Hospital at 400 Palmetto Health Parkway in Columbia around 4 p.m. Wednesday. Deputies said she was last seen wearing a blue dress and black shoes.
Officials said Rawls has memory problems, needs medication, and uses a walker. Because of those circumstances, deputies said she could be in danger when she first went missing.
Deputies identify Alice Rawls and describe her condition
The sheriff’s department publicly identified the missing woman as Alice Rawls and stressed that her health and mobility issues made the search urgent. At 82, she was considered especially vulnerable because she may not have been able to care for herself for long without help.
Officials said Rawls requires medication and has memory problems. They also noted that she uses a walker, which can limit how far and how quickly someone can travel after leaving a location unexpectedly.
Those details were part of why the case drew a rapid response from law enforcement. In missing-person situations, agencies often share clothing descriptions, last-known locations, and medical concerns so the public can help narrow the search.
Last seen near Parkridge Hospital on Palmetto Health Parkway
Rawls was last seen near Parkridge Hospital at 400 Palmetto Health Parkway in Columbia, according to the sheriff’s department. Officials said she left the area around 4 p.m. Wednesday, setting off concern among family members and authorities.
Her last known clothing description was specific: a blue dress and black shoes. That kind of detail often becomes critical when deputies and residents are trying to recognize someone quickly in a busy area.
The department did not release additional details about where she may have gone after leaving the hospital area. Instead, it focused its public alert on the time, place, and appearance information that might help anyone who saw her come forward.
SLED issued an Endangered Person Alert overnight
The case escalated enough for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to issue an Endangered Person Alert overnight. That alert signals that investigators believe the missing person may be at risk and that the public’s help is needed quickly.
SLED’s involvement broadened the reach of the search beyond local deputies. Alerts like this are designed to spread information fast when someone is especially vulnerable and may not be able to get help on their own.
In this case, the sheriff’s department said Rawls could be in danger because of her memory problems and need for medication. The overnight alert was the clearest sign that authorities wanted as many people as possible watching for her.
How the public was asked to help
Officials urged anyone who saw Rawls or had information about where she might be to call 911 right away. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department also listed its non-emergency line for tips at 803-576-3000.
By giving both emergency and direct department contact information, deputies gave the public two ways to report a sighting. That kind of outreach can be important when a missing person may be in a neighborhood, along a road, or in another place where a quick identification matters.
The public notice was built around a simple request: if you saw an older woman matching the description, contact authorities immediately. No extra details were needed for the search to move forward, only timely information from anyone who might have crossed paths with her.
Authorities later confirm Rawls was found safe
After the alert and the search, authorities said Rawls was found safe. That outcome ended the immediate concern that had prompted the endangered person notice.
The sheriff’s department’s update closed the loop on the missing-person call and confirmed that the woman who had triggered the overnight search was no longer considered missing. Officials did not include additional details about where she was found or who located her.
For a case that began with concern over memory loss, medication needs, and a walker, the safe return was the result deputies and state law enforcement were hoping for when they asked the public to keep watch.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
