JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
There are new developments in the investigation into the disappearance of a Copiah county woman last seen nearly six months ago.
Authorities have released new details about the mysterious case.
Linda Gale Reed was last heard from on April 29th.
The Gallman bookkeeper's disappearance launched an abduction investigation and search multi-county search.
Now according to Copiah County Sheriff Harold Jones, Reed's status is being changed from missing to wanted for embezzlement.
"An independent audit along with a federal investigation have revealed a "tremendous amount" of money missing from the petty cash fund of the business she was employed at," said the sheriff.
Jones said much more money could be missing that they have yet to fully document.
In mid May he doubted Reed was a missing person.
"I think she's alive. In our investigation, things are not adding up for us the way this has all played out," said Jones.
The sheriff said Reed had check writing authority at her employer Moore Fabrications and Machine.
Our calls to the company for comment were not returned Monday.
When she first went missing business owner Shannon Moore told WLBT that Reed had worked there since 1999 and was always a prompt and faithful worker.
On April 30th Reed's gray Chevy Equinox was found on an overgrown logging road off I-55, south of Crystal Springs.
Inside the vehicle Copiah County investigators found her purse, money, glasses and cell phone.
She lived in Carrollton but during the week worked and stayed in a mobile home on her employer's property.
James Lou Reed last spoke to his wife on April 29th.
"It's been tough, been tough. I just never imagined going through anything like this," said Reed in May during the height of search efforts.
Monday her husband nor stepson, Chris Reed, could be reached for comment on her wanted status.
In early May Texas Equusearch looked for Reed on horseback and on ATVs.
David Holloway, the father Mississippi native Natalie Holloway who went missing in Aruba, was also among the hundreds who joined the search efforts.
The 65 year old once thought to be the victim in a possible kidnapping is now considered by law enforcement as a thief and fugitive.
In May WLBT news first broke the story that Linda Gail Reed was believed to be in another country with a large amount of money, but local and federal authorities neither confirmed nor denied our report.
Sheriff Jones has scheduled a news conference for Tuesday morning.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
