Here is the short version of her story:Melissa Highsmith meeting her parents after more than 50 years pic.twitter.com/SulrIDdC9R
— Odd History (@OfficialOdd70) February 28, 2024
In 1971, 22-month-old Melissa Highsmith was abducted by a babysitter in Fort Worth, Texas. Highsmith's loved ones alerted the police about her disappearance, leading to years of fruitless searching. Despite their efforts, Melissa Highsmith remained missing. Her family, unwavering in their love, commemorated her with birthday celebrations every November. But with each passing year, hope for a reunion dwindled. In 2022, more than 50 years after she vanished, Melissa reunited with her biological parents and siblings, who found her through a 23andMe DNA test. The family discovered that Melissa had been raised less than 20 minutes away and had spent the majority of her life in Fort Worth.Melissa, formerly known as Melanie Walden, revealed she had no idea she was abducted, but expressed feeling unloved during her childhood, describing her upbringing as "abusive."
