SC SC - Sabrina Heinz, 49, car found on shoulder of I-77 Blythewood, she was last seen 10pm at Shell Gas Sta on SC-200, Winnsboro, 28 Jan 2026

[Unalienable Rights]

Richland County Sheriff's Department

UPDATE: Attached are additional pictures of Sabrina Heinz that RCSD investigators obtained from family that may be more helpful for community when looking out for her. RCSD is urging anyone who has...

www.facebook.com

(See comment by AG)

Richland County deputies search for missing woman after vehicle found on I-77

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is asking for the community’s help in the search for a woman who has been missing since Wednesday.

www.wistv.com

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RCSD investigators said they are concerned for her safety.

According to deputies, her vehicle was located on the shoulder of I-77 in Blythewood, where they say someone may have stopped to assist her and may know where she is.

Authorities looking for woman last seen at gas station

Authorities are looking for a woman who was last seen at a Midlands gas station.

wach.com

 

[GraceG]

Her daughter made an interseting comment on her missing post in a Facebook missing page and linked Sabrina's FB but it hasn't had an update in 7 plus years. Sabrina Heinz There IS a photo of her in that FB page from November 2017 that matches a LE photo from Charlotte the following year. (photo is from a major media channel but no other details other than the hold information). Sabrina Heinz Hold For Other Agency - WCCB Charlotte

I didn't find any court records for her in the Charlotte area, with her name and age. SC requires a county by county search which is time consuming so I did not check every county. In the countries around where she was living at the time of her disappearance there were some civil and minor misdemeaner matters that aren't relevent here, and a 2025 auto accident that resulted in a suit that was dismissed. (Case no. 2025CP4000174)

Searching the more populated area around Charleston I found 3 pending cases involving financial institution/banking crime and identity theft. I think this may be relelant enough to post , perhaps not related to the reason she disappeared but who might she have been associated with in these alleged crimes ('alleged" as she is innocent until tried, these are just pending charges).

The State of South Carolina VS Sabrina Elaine Heinz
Case No. 2019A1020900229* Court Agency: General Sessions Filed Date: 08/08/2020
Case Type: Criminal -Clerk
Status: Pending
Disposition: Disposition Date: Date Received: 08/11/2020 Arrest Date: 08/08/2020
True Bill Date: 09/12/2023
Indictment Number: 2023GS1003999
Name Charge Code - Charge Description Original Charge Code - Original Charge Disposition Date
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine 1345-Banking / Federally chartered or insured financial institution crime
Name Description Type Motion Roster Begin Date Completion Date Documents
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine Indictment/Indictment Filing 09/20/2023

Related Case: The State of South Carolina VS Sabrina Elaine Heinz
Case Number: 2019A1020900229 Court Agency: Bond Court Filed Date: 08/08/2020
Case Type: Criminal-Clerk
Status: Transferred
Disposition: Transferred from Bond Court/Other Court
Disposition Date: 08/08/2020 Date Received: Arrest Date: 08/08/2020
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine Bond Entity 08/08/2020
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine White F 1977 Defendant 08/08/2020

The State of South Carolina VS Sabrina Elaine Heinz
Case Number: 2020A1010200771 Court Agency: General Sessions Filed Date: 08/09/2020
Case Type: Criminal-Clerk
Status: Pending
Disposition: Disposition Date: Date Received: 08/14/2020 Arrest Date: 08/08/2020
True Bill Date: 09/11/2023 Indictment Number: 2023GS1004000
Name Address Race Sex Year Of Birth Party Type Party Status Last Updated
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine White F 1977 Defendant 08/09/2020
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine Bond Entity 08/09/2020
Charge Code/Description 1345-Banking / Federally chartered or insured financial institution crime

State of South Carolina VS Sabrina Elaine Heinz
Case Number: 2020A1010200772 Court Agency: General Sessions Filed Date: 08/09/2020
Case Type: Criminal-Clerk
Status: Pending
Disposition: Disposition Date: Date Received: 08/14/2020 Arrest Date: 08/08/2020
True Bill Date: 09/11/2023 Indictment Number: 2023GS1004001
Name Address Race Sex Year Of Birth Party Type Party Status Last Updated
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine White F 1977 Defendant 08/09/2020
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine Bond Entity 08/09/2020
Charge Code/Description 2813-FinanTC / Financial identity fraud or identity fraud

Case Records Search - South Carolina Judicial Branch

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Search continues for missing woman after vehicle found abandoned on I-77

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department says investigators are continuing all efforts to find missing woman Sabrina Heinz after her vehicle was found abandoned.

www.wltx.com

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Deputies said they were notified on January 30, 2026, by Heinz’s supervisor after she failed to show up for work. Investigators learned Heinz had missed a work appointment, which deputies said was out of character for her.

Deputies said Heinz’s employer activated GPS monitoring on her company vehicle, which was located on Interstate 77 in the Blythewood area. Deputies say they responded and found the vehicle abandoned, with Heinz’s personal belongings inside.

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After a winter storm temporarily limited operations, investigators were able to resume full search efforts on Sunday. Deputies said detectives are continuing to track down every lead reported regarding Heinz’s whereabouts.

*****

 

[Unalienable Rights]

YouTube video includes video of her working at the Shell Station the night she went missing.

Authorities share new photo, footage in search for missing Richland County woman

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department provided more information Tuesday in the ongoing search for a missing woman.

www.wistv.com

February 4, 2026

(This article also includes the video of Sabrina working at the Shell station.)

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RCSD said the vehicle, a Honda SUV, was discovered along Interstate 77 two days later. The department noted that the vehicle was not found with the doors open or items on the ground, with the photo being taken after it was searched.

“It was turned on, but because there was no gas, it was not cranked, but as if it had just run out. The key was still on,” Nations said. “She means a lot to her family, and it’s very important to us that we bring her home safely.”

*****

 

[amandab]

Does anyone have a map showing where exactly her car was found? I'm pretty local and would gladly go walking in that area, if it was pinned down a little more. Thanks!

 

[GraceG]

Does anyone have a map showing where exactly her car was found? I'm pretty local and would gladly go walking in that area, if it was pinned down a little more. Thanks!

The exact location has not been released, it has simply stated "on Highway 77 in the Blytheville area".

 

[amandab]

The exact location has not been released, it has simply stated "on Highway 77 in the Blytheville area".

Gotcha - appreciate the clarity just the same

 

[SimplyCass]

This is, for lack of a better word, insanely haphazard.

But here we go. I-77 on the south end of Blytheville is closed for repairs. The very north end of I-77 in Blytheville doesn't look like that screenshot, the lanes are narrow, trees are right up to the edge and there isn't a shoulder like that.

The area I circled roughly has those characteristics - more 'open' freeway, with trees further from the side, and a shoulder where a car could pull to the side.

It's also possible that she was heading northbound which would make sense if she was returning to work after doing something work related (since it was apparently a company car, in which they could locate with GPS).

I don't know if the screenshot quality is good enough to be able to tell more details like time of day or direction.

 

[starlightstarbright]

I find it really astonishing that she worked for a Shell gas station, which provided her with a work vehicle, and she was last at work that evening and yet she seems to have run out of gas in her gas station work vehicle after having left work that evening.

 

[reasonableguess]

I find it really astonishing that she worked for a Shell gas station, which provided her with a work vehicle, and she was last at work that evening and yet she seems to have run out of gas in her gas station work vehicle after having left work that evening.

I believe the implication was that the car was left running on the side of the road until it ran out of gas. IMO that leans toward car jacking as she got off work.

 

[GraceG]

I believe the implication was that the car was left running on the side of the road until it ran out of gas. IMO that leans toward car jacking as she got off work.

Great thought about the car just running out of gas because it was abandoned, running. We have a LOT of carjackings in Chicago, and I've yet to see one where the vehicle was abandoned on a highway, unless crashed and disabled. There's a first for everything, but that just strikes me as unusual.

 

[MountainGal33]

News Link From WACH Fox News with reporter at location car was found -

 

[MountainGal33]

A vigil was held today...

 

[Vern_S]

Plenty of creeks and retention ponds nearby that could conceal a body. The week or so leading up to her missing was very cold. Many of these ponds could have had a layer of ice on them. She could have ventured out on one and fell through the ice. I may be up in the area next week and will look at doing an aquatic search if she is still not found.

Area in yellow is where her car was found. Orange area is water to be searched and red is the priority.

 

[GraceG]

The conditions of her bond from the pending cases in Charleston was that she couldn't leave the State of South Carolina, so in hoping she was unharmed but out there somewhere, I checked circuit and traffic courts in other counties to see if there was any recent activity. Nothing recent, but I found othr charges for which she is currently on probation. These are closed however they has the same arrest date as the charges in Charleston County which are still pending. Still makes me wonder if this was something organized and others were involved that may have been party to her disappearance as the two cases in Charleston are still pending.

DORCHESTER COUNTY
The State of South Carolina VS Sabrina Elaine Heinz
Case Number: 2020A1820500357 Court Agency: General Sessions Filed Date: 08/12/2020
Status: Disposed Disposition: Pled Guilty Disposition Date: 09/16/2024 Date Received: 08/12/2020 Arrest Date: 08/09/2020
Indictment Number: 2020GS1801759
Name Charge Code - Charge Description
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine 2813-FinanTC / Financial identity fraud or identity fraud
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine Active - Probation (3 years) Filing 09/16/2024-12:10

The State of South Carolina VS Sabrina Elaine Heinz
Case Number: 2020A1820500358 Court Agency: General Sessions Filed Date: 08/12/2020
Status: Disposed Disposition: Pled Guilty Disposition Date: 09/16/2024 Date Received: 08/12/2020 Arrest Date: 08/09/2020
Indictment Number: 2020GS1801760
Name Charge Code - Charge Description
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine 1345-Banking / Federally chartered or insured financial institution crime
Heinz, Sabrina Elaine Active - Probation (3 years) Filing 09/16/2024-12:22

Case Records Search - South Carolina Judicial Branch

 

[GuyfromCanada]

FEB 20

FBI has joined the search.

'I cry every day': Family of missing woman speaks out after FBI joins search

It's been a month since 49-year-old Sabrina Heinz was last seen leaving work in Winnsboro, and the FBI has now joined the search as her family pleads for answer

abcnews4.com

 

[Vern_S]

Last Saturday I was in the area and sonar mapped and visually checked several ponds in the Cobblestone Neighborhood. The two larger ponds were sonar mapped, the small one was very shallow so it was visually assessed.

At the end of the month I will be back in the area and see if I can sonar map the ponds on the east side of I-77.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

'What are we going to do if we can’t find her?' Family of Sabrina Heinz holds out hope as search for missing woman approaches 1 month

It has been nearly a month since 49-year-old Sabrina Heinz was reported missing, and her family says each passing day brings more uncertainty.

www.wltx.com

February 27, 2026

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Heinz raised Goodwin on her own after Goodwin’s father died when she was young. The two spoke nearly every other day before Heinz went missing. Goodwin said her mother was a constant source of support in her life.
“She’s always been there for me,” she said. “We’re like twins. I’m just a younger version of her.... Everyone loved her.”

Heinz also played an active role as a grandmother, helping Goodwin raise her 7-year-old son, who spent weekends with her. Goodwin said her son has started asking difficult questions since Heinz's disappearance.

“He (my son) asked, ‘What are we going to do if we can’t find her?’” she said. “That hit my heart really bad, because what can you tell a child that?”

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Despite the uncertainty, Goodwin and other family members say they remain hopeful and are urging the public to keep sharing Heinz’s name and photo.

“Just keep sharing her picture, share her name. Don’t let her go forgotten,” Goodwin said. “If you see someone walking down the road blaring some music of Kid Cudi, that’s probably her.”

The family is planning a public gathering next Friday to help keep Heinz’s name in the public eye. Details about the event are expected to be released soon.

*****
More in lengthy article.

 

[elframo]

Family keeps hope alive as Sabrina Heinz remains missing more than a month later

Family and friends of a Midlands mother who has been missing for more than a month gathered Friday evening to honor her and keep hope alive for her safe return.

wach.com

March 6th
Family keeps hope alive as Sabrina Heinz remains missing more than a month later
by Kei'Yona JordonFri, March 6, 2026 at 8:46 PM



Bring Sabrina Home
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Family and friends of a Midlands mother who has been missing for more than a month gathered Friday evening to honor her and keep hope alive for her safe return.

Forty-nine-year-old Sabrina Heinz has not been seen since Jan. 28, according to her family. Her work vehicle was discovered abandoned the following day along Interstate 77 near Blythewood.

Loved ones gathered along the Saluda River Walk , one of Heinz’s favorite places, to share memories, listen to music she enjoyed and spend time together while continuing to search for answers.

(mod snip copyright)

“Tonight is just about the happy memories of everything that my mom has done with everybody and what we’ll do when she gets back, because we’re not going to lose hope,” Goodwin said. “We don’t know what could happen right now, so our last thought isn’t something bad. We’re going to get her home no matter what. We’re just out here listening to music she loved, eating food, and spending time together. We want her to see when she comes back that we stuck together.”

(mod snipn copyright)

 

[Lebowski]

Great thought about the car just running out of gas because it was abandoned, running. We have a LOT of carjackings in Chicago, and I've yet to see one where the vehicle was abandoned on a highway, unless crashed and disabled. There's a first for everything, but that just strikes me as unusual.

i would expect a carjacker to keep the car and ditch the victim, not the other way around.

besides, if this is foul play, there's clearly two cars involved, and if a perp already has a car, why do they need to carjack? (yes, i know... the current utah case with three women dead, but that guy is a rare degree of psycho, IMO) lastly, i imagine it's hard to carjack someone on the highway, with one or both of you going highway speeds.

here's the long version of what i think:

Spoiler: details

IMO leaving the key in the ignition is a strong indicator of foul play. people don't do that if they have a choice. hell, i imagine few people would even leave their keys behind, much less in the ignition.

what kind of foul play? well, why was the car stopped? either 1) it broke down, 2) she chose to stop there, 3) someone made her stop there, or 4) someone else put it there. i'm curious whether it was disabled, or merely out of gas. i lean toward the second, because AFAIK we haven't been told otherwise; then the key being left in the ignition gives us a possible reason the gas is gone, and it could be true the car was perfectly driveable when it stopped there.

if it really was stalled, then i think we have an opportunistic assault/kidnapping/etc. by a stranger who drove by.

if it wasn't stalled, that leaves #2-4. #2 would seem to mean suicide or voluntary disappearance. both are possible, but AFAIK nothing points to them. and even so, i'm guessing sheer force of habit would keep a lot of people from leaving the keys in the ignition?

if not stalled, and no suicide or voluntary disappearance, that leaves foul play by someone who knew or targetted her. possible someone hid in the back seat before she got it in at the end of her shift? but that seems risky with all the cameras at gas stations, plus the obvious chance she'll spot the perp before she gets in. ... also possible the person targetting her intercepted her on her regular commute. but i find it hard to picture how that would work, for some of the same reasons i doubt a carjacking. maybe she'd been run off the road? but then you might expect damage to the car and/or tire track evidence, etc., yet the reports make it sound like the car was just pulled over. maybe they caught up with her and honked and waved for her to pull over?? that seems poorly planned and kind of ridiculous. only mentioning it here to try to cover all possibilities.

so, if not stalled, i settle on foul play by someone who knew and/or targetted her, who she met with, initially voluntarily (makes it likely she knew them), who then attacked her.

and here's the short version:

foul play, unfortunately. what kind depends strongly on whether the car was stalled (broken down or already out of gas). ... if so, then this is probably an opportunistic crime by a stranger who happened to drive by and preyed on a stranded woman. ... if not, then i think she had a pre-arranged meeting with someone who turned on her. either right there on the highway, or somewhere else and then the perp(s) brought the car to the spot to mislead investigators. ... IF this is related to the pending identity theft cases, it's possible there were associates and someone was worried someone might cut a deal and rat them out.

specifically, i'm picturing a planned meeting right there on the side of the highway that was supposed to be brief -- quick handoff or something. she got out of her car with the engine still running, and at some point after that the other person pulled a gun and said to get in his car.

all JMO