The strange case of the amnesia-stricken woman has been solved. The woman, who was found in a U.S. neighborhood five months ago, unwell and with no memory of her identity, has been identified by her family, reported BBC News.
The woman who went by the name "Sam" after she was found by firefighters wandering in Carlsbad, Calif., earlier this year has found out that her real name is Ashley Menatta, a 53-year-old woman who was born in Pennsylvania and lived in Arizona and California, according to a Facebook page created to reunite her with her family, ABC News reported.
Menatta was not in contact with her family member since 2013. She was apparently speaking with an Australian accent leading many to believe that she was not a citizen of the United States.
Menatta reportedly told officers who found her that she had been diagnosed with stage-three ovarian cancer, and she underwent a surgery during which surgeons removed a tumor the size of a volleyball. Doctors believe the cancer may have caused her to suffer from retro-grade amnesia, according to Fox News.
The Facebook page announced that Menatta's family had been located.
"We have some great news," the post said.
"Sam (Ashley is her name) and I want to thank you all who have been sharing, searching, emailing, posting, private messaging, calling, texting, twittering, NBC Channel 7 in San Diego, Australian News, England News, police, Missing Australians, Australian Missing Persons Regiser, FBI, Interpol and everyone else!!!! We could not have done this without all of your help!"
