According to the Fort Worth Police Department in the US state of Texas, a woman named Melissa Highsmith has been reunited with her biological family after being missing for 51 years.
The discovery of the relationship came after a DNA test proved Melissa was the baby of the Highsmith family, who disappeared in 1971 at the age of just 1 year and 10 months.
According to the family, all indications are that Melissa was kidnapped by a nanny while her parents were at work. The child had not been seen to this day, five decades later.
Melissa Highsmith was already reunited with her real family in late 2022 when the first DNA tests were conducted to prove consanguinity or not.
Melissa Highsmith, Downtown, has been reunited with her parents, Alta Apantenco and Jeffrie Highsmith.
Now that the relationship is confirmed, the case of Melissa’s disappearance can finally be closed. “We hope this test result provides additional closure for the Highsmith family,” Fort Worth Police said in a statement.
It was years of torment
The compelling story of the Highsmith family only came to light after the case broke to NBC. However, Melissa’s biological parents have been looking for her for years.
According to Victoria Highsmith, Melissa’s sister, her mother has performed DNA tests on at least six women over the years, but they all went wrong, greatly discouraging the matriarch.
“My mother was always hopeful. After 51 years, she did not want to take another DNA test. She was tired, hurt and guilty for carrying it around all these years,” Victoria said.
“I am grateful that we got her to submit her DNA for this further test. After that, my dad took the test too, and luckily we were finally able to find Melissa,” he said.
Victoria also said that in addition to being very happy, her mother was relieved that she no longer had to bear the blame for Melissa’s disappearance.
“She carried that pain and guilt for 51 years and I watched her cry with joy for three days. [depois de encontrar Melissa]. I’ve never seen my mother so happy.”
Although Melissa disappeared many years ago, she is still being investigated by the Fort Worth Police Department. Authorities are asking anyone with more information about the case to come forward and file a report.
“Although the statute of limitations has passed 20 years after Melissa’s 18th birthday, the Fort Worth Police Department’s Major Case Unit continues to request the public’s assistance with additional information regarding Melissa’s abduction, which occurred more than 20 years ago,” authorities said in an explanation.