Missing Disabled Woman Found Safe in Tampa

A 24 year-old disabled Holiday woman with the mental capacity of a 10 to 12 year-old was found safe Wednesday morning near USF in Tampa.

Investigators say Rachel Fisher told them she left her group home at 3453 Seffner Dr. early Tuesday morning, because she wanted to see her boyfriend who lives in Tampa.

Fisher told detectives she walked to the intersection of Rowan Rd and SR 54 in New Port Richey, where she was given a ride by a man driving a semi truck.  The distance from Fisher's group home in Holiday to this location is more than five miles.

The man in the truck drove her to an area near 22nd St. N and Bearss Ave. in Tampa. Fisher told detectives she spent Tuesday evening walking around looking for her boyfriend.

It turns out that truck driver happened to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and told deputies he had driven Fisher from New Port Richey to Tampa.

A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy found Fisher around 9:30 Wednesday morning. She appeared to be in good condition.

Patrol units with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office had actually been watching out for Fisher because of a BOLO that was issued. Pasco County Sheriff's Detectives had called the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to let them know that Fisher was missing and might be headed to the USF area.

During their investigation into Fisher's disappearance, Pasco detectives had discovered that she had left group homes in Manatee County and Hillsborough County a total of 27 times. In some of these cases, Fisher had traveled to the USF area.

Fisher told detectives she was not the victim of any crimes during this outing. 

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office had searched for Fisher by air, in local waterways, and on land after her disappearance. 

A security camera recorded her walking through the parking lot of a CVS store at Darlington Rd in Holiday around 1 p.m Tuesday.

Fisher is now back at her group home in Holiday.