BOSSIER CITY, La. — A Summerdale minister's wife, missing since March 24, 2007, is alive in New York state. That announcement was made Monday by Bossier City detectives who have been looking for Mary Byrne Smith since she disappeared four months ago from a women's religious retreat at the CenturyTel Center in that city.

The announcement that Smith, 30, was in New York state came after Bossier City detectives released pictures last week of the wife and mother of two pawning her wedding ring on the day she disappeared.

Bossier City Police Chief Mike Halphen said in a press release issued Monday that Smith told detectives she is in good health and "left of her own free will."

"It's a private matter involving a woman who chose for whatever reason to leave her life," said Public Information Officer Mark Natale of Bossier City on Tuesday. "We're done with it," he said of the investigation, noting no laws were broken in connection with Smith's disappearance. The Smith case is now considered closed by Bossier City police, he said.

Right after authorities in Bossier City released pictures last week of Smith in a Bossier City area pawn shop on the day she disappeared, detectives learned that the missing woman had applied for a copy of her teaching certificate through the Alabama Department of Education, Natale said.

From the outset of the investigation Bossier City police expressed doubt that Smith's disappearance was the result of foul play. On the day she disappeared, Smith told a local friend who was attending the retreat/Bible conference with her that she was going to the restroom.

"At Smith's request, the Bossier City Police Department is not releasing specific details about Smith's location or why she chose to leave Bossier City last March," the Monday release said.

According to the release, Bossier City detectives learned last week from state education officials that Smith had applied for a copy of her teaching certificate a few weeks ago. At the time of her disappearance, Smith was a teacher at Elsanor School.

The certificate was mailed to a location in New York state. Detectives were able to verify that Smith had, indeed, applied for a teaching position in New York. Detectives were eventually able to contact Smith on July 27 at a "fast food restaurant" where she was working. At that time, authorities were able to confirm Smith's identity based on personal information she provided.

"Smith stressed to detectives she left on her own and for personal reasons," the release said.

Smith's husband, Jason, is pastor of Summerdale First Baptist Church. Last month the church held a candlelight prayer vigil at Summerdale Community Park for the woman known as "Beth" to family and friends.

Smith's closest friends have continued to believe to this point that had the missing woman run away she would at least have left a note that day in Bossier City.