Family of church-going mother who vanished before being found 200 miles from home gives heart-wrenching update on her condition

The family of a South Carolina mother who disappeared after attending a church conference 200 miles from home has given a somber update on her condition.

Leigh McAlister, 37, was reported missing by her husband, Rob, on Valentine's Day, when she was due to return to their home in Lexington, just outside of Columbia, from the church conference in Midtown Atlanta. 

The mother-of-one traveled to the city for the conference on February 13, and Rob said he last heard from her that evening, according to 11 Alive.

She was last seen on surveillance footage at a Publix supermarket in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta the night of February 14.

The mystery then deepened on Monday, when her SUV was found abandoned near the Atlanta Braves stadium, less than 10 miles from the supermarket, with all of her personal effects still inside.

Fortunately, her family announced that local authorities discovered her alive at an Atlanta hospital on Tuesday - hundreds of miles from home.

However, in the latest social media update, Leigh's sister, Kathleen Hall-Hayes, said she is still in the hospital days later, and authorities are desperately trying to piece together what happened to her.

'Leigh is found and safe, and for that we are so very grateful. At this time, she remains hospitalized, and we are still working to understand the circumstances leading to this event,' Hall-Hayes wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

Her husband Rob (right), said the couple have a four-year-old son (center) and Leigh has never disappeared before 

'If you have any information on her whereabouts in the Atlanta area from Friday night through the weekend, please share with APD or Cobb County authorities, me personally, or the contact points on the flyer.'

Leigh had planned to return home the next day, but a missing-persons poster shared online noted that she was considering returning a day later than she had originally planned, for unknown reasons. 

According to the Cobb County Police Department, Leigh was last seen wearing a white sweater, blue jeans, and brown boots.

It is unclear what church conference she was attending, where it was held and what church in South Carolina she is a member of.

Her husband, with whom she shares a four-year-old son, said she had never disappeared before.

He also said it was highly unusual for her to leave her personal belongings, including her phone and wallet, inside the car. 

'It's not like her,' Rob told WLTX as he searched Atlanta for his wife on Monday evening.

The Cobb County Police Department has since confirmed that its Major Crimes Unit is investigating her disappearance, as questions remain about why her car may have been abandoned or how she traveled without her car, phone and wallet.

Leigh was found by authorities in a hospital on Tuesday, and according to her family she is still there as of Thursday

Leigh's family has called on any one with information about what happened to her to come forward as police attempted to piece together what led to her disappearance 

Hall-Hayes thanked friends and family for their support during this difficult time and praised the police for their work in finding her sister.

'Thank you all for your support during this time,' she wrote. 'I can tell you they were helpful and felt, even by Leigh.'

In a previous update, Hall-Hayes wrote, 'Cobb County Police have been diligently working with family today. Your leads are being monitored and are appreciated.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Cobb County Police Department and Leigh's family members for more information.

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