Texas family reunites with daughter who went missing 51 years ago – National | 24CA News
A U.S. girl who was allegedly kidnapped by her babysitter greater than 50 years in the past made an emotional and joyous reunion together with her delivery household over the weekend.
According to a report from news station WCIV, Melissa Highsmith was discovered by her household with the assistance of a DNA check and police help.
Melissa was simply 22 months previous when she was allegedly kidnapped in August of 1971 by a babysitter her mom had discovered after taking out a newspaper advert asking for assist with little one care.
Melissa Highsmith was simply 22 months previous when she went lacking.
Courtesy / Highsmith Family
Melissa’s organic mom, Alta Apantenco, was a single mother working full time in Fort Worth, Texas, and wanted somebody to care for her daughter.
ABC News experiences that since Apantenco needed to be at work, her roommate was there to greet the babysitter, whom Apantenco had employed over the telephone however by no means met.
The babysitter, who recognized herself by the identify of Ruth Johnson, was presupposed to take Melissa for the day. But she by no means returned with the newborn and couldn’t be reached.
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Melissa was reported lacking to police, however police on the time stated they found no proof that she was harmed. Instead, ABC experiences, police stated they hoped whoever had Highsmith was taking excellent care of her.
Melissa’s delivery household shared with NBC News that Apantenco confronted years of accusations from police that she had presumably killed her daughter and lined up the crime.
Melissa’s household stated they by no means stopped on the lookout for her, and their diligence paid off simply final week when outcomes of a DNA check linked their household to Melissa’s kids.
The household stated they satisfied Melissa’s dad to take a 23andMe DNA check. When the check outcomes got here again on Nov. 22, there was a 100 per cent match to Highsmith’s three kids.
“One of our sisters called her daughter — the youngest one — and her daughter led us to her mom,” Jeff Highsmith, Melissa’s youthful brother, informed Fox News Digital.
“We had coffee with her on Thanksgiving night, and when I looked at her, I just knew. I knew,” Jeff stated, including he “couldn’t take” his eyes off Highsmith as a result of she appeared “just like” his mom.
Amazingly, Melissa — who now goes by Melanie Brown however is contemplating altering her identify again to Melissa — was raised 10 minutes from the condominium constructing the place she went lacking.
Staff at KTVT in Fort Worth sat down with Melissa and her delivery mother and father over the weekend whereas they browsed previous child images.
“It is overwhelming, but at the same time it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world,” Melissa stated, including that she questioned the lady who raised her in regards to the scenario, and he or she confirmed that she was the lacking child Melissa.
The Highsmith household, together with dozens of supporters, are celebrating the great news in a Facebook group set as much as discover their lacking member of the family.
It wasn’t instantly clear Monday what grew to become of the babysitter or if the lady who raised Highsmith was the identical individual believed to have kidnapped her.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
