Holly Hill cops: 48-year-old woman reported missing turns up at New Smyrna Beach church feeding program

Carol Jean PaceCarol Jean Pace, the Holly Hill woman reported missing since April 18, was found safe Wednesday at a church in New Smyrna Beach that feeds the needy, police said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 48-year-old woman considered endangered The Holly Hill Police Department reports that Carol Jean Pace, who was reported missing seven days earlier was spotted Wednesday during the serving of a hot meals program for the needy at the First United Methodist Church Hot Meals Program here in New Smyrna Beach.

"The church reports that they recognized Ms. Pace from media reports and contacted the Holly Hill Police Department," Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker said in a press release to Central Florida media outlets, including Headline Surfer, the New Smyrna Beach-based 24/7 Internet newspaper.

New Smyrna Beach police officers assisted in contacting Pace and confirmed that she was safe.

"Ms. Pace indicated to officers that she was not happy with her living situation and simply left on April 13th," Barker said.

Pace was described by law enforcement as mentally challenged and in danger of exploitation. At the time of her disappearance she was depressed over the recent death of her boyfriend, Barker said.

Friends became concerned because she left behind her clotheses, medicines and personal belongings. Page was known to walk the seedy stretch of the Ridgewood Avenue corridor between Holly Hill and Daytona Beach and had in the past stopped in at the Homeless Coalition in nearby Daytona Beach.