By HEATHER RUPPE
The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an alleged missing persons’ case, where a woman apparently packed her suitcase and left the grounds of a local religious compound only to return to the grounds about a week later.
According to a local sheriff’s office incident report, the woman is identified as Gayle Sharpe, 66, of Colleton County. Sharp was first reported missing from Overcomer’s Ministry on June 23rd. The report was filed by a person who is also living on the compound, which is located along a rural portion of Augusta Highway near Walterboro. This was the last time that anyone reported seeing her, which prompted the sheriff’s office to reach out to the public, asking for information on the missing woman’s whereabouts.
Investigators with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office were in the area, working this case up until Monday, July 5th, when the woman apparently returned to the compound on her own.
According to Shalane Lowes, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, Sharp did return to Overcomer’s Ministry and appeared to have done so on her own free will. At this point in time, there is no indication of foul play; however, investigators are still speaking to Sharp and are working on this case, said Lowes.
