In 1971, Melissa Highsmith was abducted from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, marking one of the longest-running missing person cases in the U.S. Recently, Melissa celebrated a long-awaited reunion with her family, an event she describes as a “Christmas miracle.”
According to ABC affiliate WFAA, Melissa’s mother, Alta, who now goes by Alta Apantenco, had advertised for a babysitter to care for her 21-month-old daughter while at work. A well-dressed woman identifying herself as Ruth Johnson responded to the ad but was not a genuine babysitter. After Johnson picked up baby Melissa from Apantenco’s roommate, the baby and the woman vanished.
In response, the Highsmith family, including the Fort Worth police and the FBI, dedicated considerable efforts to locate Melissa. Despite their exhaustive search, they found no leads. The only remaining hope was the absence of any signs of harm, which led the family to cling to the possibility that Melissa was being cared for well. This hope persisted for 51 years.
During this time, Melissa—who had no recollection of her abduction—endured a challenging life with the woman who claimed to be her mother. In an interview with WFAA, Melissa recounted, “I didn’t feel loved as a child. It was abusive, and I ran away at 15. I ended up on the streets and did what I could to survive.”
A significant breakthrough occurred in September when Melissa’s father, Jeffrie Highsmith (now divorced from Alta), decided to pursue DNA testing after a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children proved unfruitful. Using 23andMe, he discovered a match linked to Melissa. His son Jeff (Melissa’s brother) found her on Facebook and reached out.
Initially skeptical, Melissa’s doubts were alleviated when the Highsmiths showed her a baby photo that resembled her closely. According to Good Morning America, Melissa had a distinctive birthmark, and her birthday was very close to the date when she was kidnapped.
The final confirmation came when Melissa confronted the woman she believed to be her mother. “I asked her if she needed to tell me anything, and it was confirmed that she knew I was baby Melissa. That made it real,” Melissa told FOX 25.
In an ironic twist, Melissa and her biological family had been living less than 20 minutes apart all this time. While this discovery brings mixed emotions, the family is focused on making up for lost time and celebrating their reunion.
“I’m overjoyed and can’t describe my feelings. I’m thrilled to see my daughter again, someone I thought I’d never see,” Apantenco shared with WFAA. Melissa added, “I feel like I’m dreaming and keep pinching myself to ensure I’m awake.”
On their shared Facebook Group page, the family noted that the joy among them was immense. They highlighted that Melissa’s discovery was made possible purely through DNA testing, not through police or FBI involvement or private investigations. This case underscores the increasing role of DNA testing in solving missing person cases. Previously, a man kidnapped in 1964 found his biological family using similar ancestry services.
The reunited Highsmith family plans to cherish their newfound moments together. According to WFAA, Melissa has reclaimed her birth name (“Melanie”) and is planning to remarry her current husband so her father can walk her down the aisle. These moments are sure to become treasured memories for the entire family.