CHESTER, Ill. – Randolph County, Illinois Sheriff Jarrod Peters has announced that a Stockton, New Jersey resident has been located in Perry County, Mo. and is safe.
On Monday March 15th, 2025, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a theft at a residence on Eden Road, in rural Sparta Illinois. Deputies quickly learned that Maggie Zackheim, of Stockton, New Jersey, had been seen at the location but retreated into a nearby wooded area. Deputies were able to determine that Zackheim was possibly suffering from a mental illness and were worried for her safety.
Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and members of Sparta Police Department used police drones equipped with thermal imaging in their attempts to locate Zakheim on the 15th and again on the 16th. All search efforts yielded negative results.
Due to the cold temperatures and strong winds on March 15th, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office elicited the help of the public via social media, in an effort to learn the whereabouts of Zackheim. As of the early morning hours on March 17th, her location was still unknown.
At 10:37am on March 17th, 2025, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office was called for vehicle theft on Eden Road approximately 1 ½ miles South of the last known location of Zackheim. Responding, Deputies established that a Nissan pickup truck had been stolen within the last hour of the call.
Deputies were able to find the location of the stolen vehicle through an on-board GPS system controlled by Nissan. After learning of the vehicle’s location and direction of travel, authorities were notified, and at 11:55 a.m. the vehicle was located in rural Perry County Missouri. Missouri authorities located Zackheim driving the vehicle and took her into custody.
Sheriff Peters is urging anyone with information concerning this case or any related case to contact his Office at 618-826-5484 to speak with telecommunications or via the Randolph County Tipline at 618-826-2712.
“I would like to thank the members of Sparta and Perryville Police Departments for their quick response in bringing a potentially dangerous situation to an end without injury,”Sheriff Peters said.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.