Husband 'faked his wife's death by pretending she fell over a cliff so she would avoid jail time for fraud' - but investigators found her hiding in her closet after a costly search

A West Virginia woman and her husband allegedly faked her disappearance by pretending she plummeted from a cliff so that she could avoid jail time. 

On Sunday, Rodney Wheeler, 48, reported that his wife Julie Wheeler, 43, had fallen from an overlook at New River Gorge while they were out hiking together in Grandview State Park. 

Authorities immediately launched a large-scale search for the missing mom-of-two. , with a National Guard helicopter deployed to scour the area and a diving crew dispatched to search waters in the gorge. Investigators also brought in sniffer dogs, while abseilers were seen scaling the side of the cliff from which Julie purportedly plummeted. 

But on Tuesday, Julie was discovered hiding in a closet at her home in Beaver by state police who had called around to pick up items pertaining to their search. 

Authorities now believe Julie and Rodney concocted her 'disappearance' so that she would avoid upcoming jail time which she is due to serve. 

Back in February, Julie plead guilty to healthcare fraud and was due to be sentenced on June 17. She is facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for that offense.  

Julie Wheeler (left) and her husband, Rodney (right), allegedly faked her disappearance by pretending she plummeted off a cliff so that she could avoid jail time. The pair were arrested and charged on Wednesday 

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Authorities immediately launched a large-scale search for the missing mom-of-two in Grandview State Park 

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An abseiler was seen scaling the side of the cliff from which Julie purportedly plummeted

On Sunday, Rodney and his 17-year-old son allegedly planted several of Julie's items near the cliff to make it look like she had fallen over the edge. 

Rodney reportedly told police Julie had toppled from the cliff while trying to search for a missing earring. 

He took to Facebook on Monday, writing: 'The accident at Grandview yesterday involved my wife. They haven't found her yet, but I am holding out hope that she will be found and she is OK. I am heartbroken and lost right now, but I have to have faith. Please give us time to work through this, and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.'

Rescue crews scoured the area on both Sunday and Monday before suspending the search shortly before she was found cowering in the cupboard at home. 

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Search crews in a National Guard helicopter are seen scouring the area where Julie 'disappeared'. All the while, she was actually hiding in a closet at her home 

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Rodney told police Julie had toppled from the cliff while trying to search for a missing earring. He searched a post asking people to 'pray' that she would be found. In reality, Julie was holed up inside her home 

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Police believed Rodney and his 17-year-old son planted items around the cliff in Grandview State Park to make it appear as if Julie had fallen 

Last year, Julie was charged with 'submitting fraudulent applications to the Veteran's Administration while serving as caretaker for an individual with Spina Bifida', according to The Bluefield Daily Telegraph. 

Investigators asserted that Julie had dishonestly told that VA that she had provided care for the unidentified individual every day for 18 months. She reportedly received a daily rate of $736 for providing that care.  

After pleading guilty in February, Julie was released pending her sentencing. In addition to the prospect of a decade behind bars, Julie has been ordered to pay restitution of up to $469,000. 

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Julie Wheeler was pictured being taken into custody on Tuesday. She now faces new charges on top of a potential 10-year jail sentence for healthcare fraud 

Her 'disappearance' would have meant she would have avoided that hefty sum, her $250,000 fine and any jail time. 

Now, however, she and her husband are behind bars because of their bogus 'missing person' scheme.  

The couple have been charged with fraudulent schemes, conspiracy, willful disruption of a governmental process and obstructing an officer, among other offences. 

They are both being held on a $100,000 bond.  

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Julie looked devastated while in police custody on Tuesday. She and her husband are each being held on a $100,000 bond