Officials said that a romance author who had been missing for more than two weeks had been discovered safe in Hawaii, putting an end to a harrowing ordeal that had caused concern and misunderstanding.

Faleena Hopkins, 52, was found when her cellphone ping-ed Kauai mobile towers. Hopkins had acted the previous month erratically, speeding away from a police officer in Wyoming after “placing [her car] in the middle of the highway.” She was taken into custody and given multiple charges. After being initially let go, she went out and got a new phone. According to local police lieutenant Russ Ruschill, “The Jackson Police Department would like to express its gratitude to the law enforcement organizations that helped in this investigation as well as to the media and general public for their support in helping to find Ms. Hopkins.”