Folk music legend Linda Perhacs, 82, has been found safe, eight months after she disappeared after leaving a residential care facility. A representative for the LAPD Missing Persons Unit confirmed her safe return to The Daily Mail, stating, "She was found today. She's safe. We can't share where as it involves her HIPAA."
Perhacs was last seen in the care of her legal guardian approximately eight months ago. Friends and collaborators reported being unable to contact her or her guardian since her departure from the facility. This led to concerns for her well-being, with some suggesting she had been struggling with dementia while living at the care facility for several years.
Friends and collaborators, including her former co-producer Fernando Perdomo, musician Julia Holter, and director Jessica Hundley, took steps to locate her. Perdomo shared that an official report was filed with Adult Protective Services, which he described as "a step in the right direction." They also filed a missing persons report with the Los Angeles Police Department and retained a private investigator.
In a statement, Perhacs' former manager Laurel Stearns emphasized that those seeking her were "not alleging wrongdoing" but were instead "seeking confirmation that Linda is safe, well, and receiving appropriate care." The group expressed concern over the prolonged absence of communication with the acclaimed artist, whose work has influenced many musicians and listeners.
Perhacs, who initially worked as a dental hygienist, released her debut album "Parallelograms" in 1970. The album gained little attention initially but was rediscovered in 1998, leading to a resurgence of interest in her music and her return to recording. She later released "The Soul of All Natural Things" in 2014 and "I'm a Harmony" in 2017.
The identity of Perhacs' legal guardian has not been publicly released. Representatives for Perhacs and the LAPD have been contacted for further comment.