The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) turned to the public this week for help in locating a 49-year-old woman who went missing last week.
Authorities said that after her disappearance, Heinz's car was found abandoned on the shoulder of Interchange 77 in Blythewood.
Winnsboro and Blythewood are about 13 miles away from Columbia in South Carolina’s Midlands region.
“RCSD investigators are concerned for her safety,” police officials said. “It is possible someone stopped to assist her and may know where she is.”
Heinz appears as a white female who is 5 foot 2 and weighs 160 pounds.
She was last seen wearing a collared, short-sleeved red shirt with long black sleeves underneath over black pants.
“She is a well-known person around Columbia," Goodwin said. "She's a very loving person. Everyone who knows her, loves her. She has her days like every normal person does. She's obviously the best in my eyes.”
When asked if her mother had a medical condition that may have caused Heinz to wander off, Goodwin said Heinz had not shared such a diagnosis with her.
“Not that we know of,” Goodwin said. “My mom tries to help everybody that she can, even though she needed help herself with certain things like home stuff.”
A prayer vigil for Heinz is taking place on Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. at Finlay Park in downtown Columbia.
Last month, the FBI announced it is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the disappearance of 64-year-old tribal member Besalynn Mary James, who was last seen on Jan. 20, 2025, at 1:16 p.m. at her residence in Bellingham, Washington, on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation.
“James's sister went to her trailer to feed her dogs after her disappearance and noted the residence was unusually clean," the Charley Project website further said. "Bowman, who is believed to be in Idaho, has not been charged in James's disappearance.”