A woman who was missing for 51 years has been finally reunited with her family. Melissa Highsmith was one-year-old when she was kidnapped back in 1971, reports the Mirror.
The baby's disappearance came after her mother, Alta Apantenco, placed an advertisement in a local newspaper looking for a babysitter. The single mother hired a woman, without meeting her, after she applied for the position.
Alta's roommate then handed over Melissa to the woman who allegedly kidnapped her and took her away from her family for over 50 years. The family reported the missing child to local authorities in Texas but she was never found.
However, there was a twist to the tale this year, when the family were given a tip-off to Melissa's whereabouts. The tipster said she was living in Charleston, South Carolina.
This being over 1,000 miles away from her family and the location where she was originally kidnapped from. After using Melissa's birthmark and her birthday to confirm it was her, she was found living under the name Melanie Walden.
The family then underwent a DNA test which confirmed that she was in fact their abducted child. Melissa's family and friends held a party at the weekend to celebrate her homecoming.
Her mum, dad, Jeffrie Highsmith, and two of her four siblings were in attendance at the event. Victoria Garner, Mellisa's sister, said in a statement: “I couldn’t stop crying, I was overjoyed, and I’m still walking around in a fog trying to comprehend that my sister [was] right in front of me and that we found her.”
Melissa's other sister, Sharon Highsmith, took aim at the authorities for their mishandling of the case. She said: “Our family has suffered at the hands of agencies who have mismanaged this case.
“Right now, we just want to get to know Melissa, welcome her to the family and make up for 50 years of lost time.”
“My mom did the best she could with the limited resources she had – she couldn’t risk getting fired, so she trusted the person who said they’d care for her child. I’m grateful … we have vindication for my mom.”
It is still unknown what happened to the babysitter who allegedly kidnapped Melissa.
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