Melissa Highsmith kidnapping case was solved after more than fifty years, bringing joy to her and her family as they were finally reunited. The case gained attention in recent years as Melissa’s true identity was discovered and she was able to meet her birth family.
Melissa was just 22 months old when she was abducted from her Fort Worth, Texas home in 1971 by a woman posing as a babysitter named Ruth Johnson, who promised to return her but never did.
Melissa lived in Fort Worth for over fifty years, unaware of her true identity and the circumstances of her abduction.
The emotional reunion ended a decades-long search for answers and closure for the family.
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Melissa Highsmith Kidnapped In Fort Worth
In August 1971, Melissa Highsmith was just 22 months old when she was allegedly kidnapped from her home in Fort Worth, Texas.
Her mother had placed an ad in the local newspaper for a babysitter and a woman named Ruth Johnson answered the ad. Johnson picked up Melissa from her mother’s roommate while Melissa’s mother was at work.
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the woman who came to get the child seemed “nice” and “dressed to impress.” She was wearing white gloves, sunglasses, and a bonnet on her head.
But she never returned with Melissa and could not be reached by phone.
Melissa’s mother immediately reported her daughter’s disappearance to the authorities, but no leads or evidence surfaced in the case.
Melissa’s mother has been searching for her daughter for over 50 years, hoping for a reunion. The case shows the danger of leaving children with strangers, even if they appear trustworthy.
Finally, after all these years, Melissa was able to be reunited with her family, bringing a sense of joy and closure to a decades-long search for answers.
Where Was Melissa Highsmith Found?
In November 2022, Melissa Highsmith, kidnapped from her family in Texas in 1971, was finally reunited with them. This was a delightful event that made news all over the country.
The identity of, Melissa was officially confirmed by the Police, ending decades of uncertainty and suffering for her family.
In September 2022, an unnamed source told the NCMEC about a possible sighting in Charleston, South Carolina.
The person who gave a tip said they recognized the woman from the digitally aged faces of NCMEC’s open cases.
In October, the Highsmith family went from Texas to Charleston, South Carolina, to talk to people there about the case and raise notice. However, the tip turned out to be nothing.
But Highsmith’s Father, Jeffrie, conducted a 23andMe DNA test, which linked him to Melissa’s children.
Jeffrie and Apantenco’s other children could find her Facebook page with just a few clicks on the internet. They then called out to the 23AndMe connection and convinced her to meet.
The reunion was emotional, with Jeffrie telling CBS News, “I started crying … after 51 years, it’s so emotional.”
Melissa Highsmith Case Details
Highsmith’s case is a remarkable story of resilience, hope, and reunion. The incident occurred over five decades ago when Melissa was kidnapped from her parents’ Fort Worth home.
However, her family never lost hope in finding her, and more than 50 years later, they finally succeeded.
Melissa was raised with the name Melanie and was unaware of her family’s search for her.
She didn’t know she was missing until a friend contacted her on Facebook to tell her. Despite initial suspicion that the message was a scam, Melissa Highsmith found out the truth and finally reunited with her family on November 26, 2022.
The reunion was emotional as Melissa met her mother, Father, and two of her four siblings during a celebration at their church in Fort Worth.
While the reunion was a moment of joy and relief for Melissa and her family, the sense of injustice remains.
The statute of limitations for potential criminal charges related to Melissa’s kidnapping has expired, meaning the person responsible will never be brought to justice.
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FAQs
Who abducted Melissa Highsmith?
Melissa was just 22 months old when she was abducted from her Fort Worth, Texas home in 1971 by a woman posing as a babysitter named Ruth Johnson, who promised to return her but never did.
Who was the woman found 51 years after kidnapping?
In November 2022, Melissa Highsmith, kidnapped from her family in Texas in 1971, was finally reunited with them. This was a delightful event that made news all over the country.
Where was Melissa Highsmith kidnapped from?
In August 1971, Melissa Highsmith was just 22 months old when she was allegedly kidnapped from her home in Fort Worth, Texas.
