EDGEFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — The strange summer saga of Susan Rhodes, the 65-year-old North Augusta woman who vanished for nearly two months after a crash, has taken yet another wild turn — this time ending with her behind bars.
Rhodes was arrested Monday in Edgefield County and charged with Hit & Run, Reckless Driving, and Open Container. She is currently being held at the Edgefield County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond, set Tuesday afternoon.
The charges stem from a June 11 wreck that sparked a frantic search effort. At the time, Rhodes reportedly told authorities she had been swept away in a creek after her crash — a claim that prompted multiple law enforcement agencies, search teams, and community volunteers to scour the area in hopes of finding her alive.
But according to investigators, that story was a complete fabrication. Authorities now say Rhodes walked away from the crash scene on her own, avoiding detection for weeks. She was finally located at her own home last week, safe and sound — but with a bizarre tale involving strangers, a black truck, and a survival story that police say didn’t match the evidence.
Edgefield County officials say the reality was far less dramatic than Rhodes claimed:
“The resources and manpower dedicated to finding Ms. Rhodes were substantial,” one investigator said. “We now know she deliberately avoided contact and misled everyone involved.”
Before her arrest, Rhodes was evaluated at a local hospital. She was later booked into jail Monday afternoon, ending a case that had left both law enforcement and the community baffled for nearly two months.
Neighbors say they’re still stunned by the ordeal, describing Rhodes as “friendly but eccentric.” Many admit they followed the story closely, believing the initial creek rescue narrative, only to feel betrayed when the truth emerged.
The incident has raised questions about wasted search-and-rescue resources and whether additional charges could be filed related to the false report and massive manhunt her claims triggered.
For now, Rhodes remains in custody, awaiting her next court date. The once “missing grandmother” whose disappearance gripped local headlines is now facing the very real consequences of what police call a “reckless and deceptive” series of choices.
What began as a mysterious disappearance has now ended in an orange jumpsuit — and a story that may be remembered in the community for years, both for its bizarre twists and for the toll it took on those who searched for her.
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