Illinois Woman Missing 40 Years, Thought Dead, Found in Jacksonville (BLOG, VIDEO)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 40 year mystery is solved.

An Illinois woman who's been missing since 1970 was found alive and well in Jacksonville.

The remarkable story came as a shock to the woman's family in Illinois, who spoke with First Coast News' sister station, WQAD, in Galesburg.

"It's just shocking," said Grace Kivisto, Lula Cora Hood's daughter.

Grace Kivisto says her mother, Lula Cora Hood, went missing from their Illinois home in 1970.

"She just left one day and we never heard another thing," Kivisto said.

In 1996, human remains were found in a Galesburg, Illinios brickyard. Police believed it was Hood, and her family said their goodbyes.

"We had a memorial service," Kivisto said.

"I just decided well, she's with God now," added Hood's niece, Bernadine Collins.

Last week, Kivisto got a call from police, who told her advanced DNA testing revealed the brickyard remains were not her mother's.

Knox County Sheriff's Department Detective Jason Landers reopened the case, and searched for Hood based on her first and middle name and birthdate.

"I had confidence that we would find her," Landers said. "I don't know whether I thought she would still be alive."

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office told First Coast News they were contacted by Knox County regarding Lula Cora Hood.

After "Lula Cora" verified specific details of her life and family, detectives in Knox County felt confident she was the right Lula Cora Hood.

"This morning I was out gardening and a detective came and told me they had found my mother, alive, in Jacksonville Florida," Kivisto said.

After 40 years, Kivisto said can't wait to be reunited with her mother.

For Knox County detectives, the puzzle isn't complete; they still don't know whose remains were found in the brickyard in 1996.

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