Monday 28 November 2022 08:47 PM Brother meets missing sister first time who was abducted 51 years ago trends now

Monday 28 November 2022 08:47 PM Brother meets missing sister first time who was abducted 51 years ago trends now
Monday 28 November 2022 08:47 PM Brother meets missing sister first time who was abducted 51 years ago trends now

Monday 28 November 2022 08:47 PM Brother meets missing sister first time who was abducted 51 years ago trends now

The brother of Melissa Highsmith said 'God answered my prayers' during an emotional reunion with the sister he's been searching for most of his life after she was kidnapped by a babysitter in 1971.

Jeff Highsmith, 42, told DailyMail.com that he was only six years old when his parents told him about his sister's abduction.

He said at the time he was too young to understand, but around thirteen he began to do his own research and became obsessed with her disappearance.

'It was a horrible tragedy and we never thought we would find her and we just moved on but it haunted me and consumed me,' Jeff said.

Melissa, now 53, was kidnapped from her mother's Texas home just months before she turned two. It wasn't until Thanksgiving eve that Jeff's prayers were answered. After decades of dead ends, cold leads and unanswered questions, the siblings met for the first time. 

They reunited at a Starbucks in the Forth Worth, Texas. Jeff says one of the most remarkable things was Melissa did not even know she was abducted until now. 

Jeff - who lives in Keller, a city in Tarrant County, Texas in the Dallas–Fort Worth area - has spent years searching for his sibling. Meanwhile, she was living just 10 miles away in Fort Worth, Texas under the name Melanie Walden.

'As a child it has been a lifelong dream to find my sister. I always [thought about] how would I respond. The minute we saw each other I started crying. We talked for two hours and it felt so comfortable,' Jeff said.

Jeff Highsmith, 42, met his sister Melissa, 53, (pictured together) for the first time on Thanksgiving. Jeff said his sister's disappearance 'haunted and consumed' him

Jeff Highsmith, 42, met his sister Melissa, 53, (pictured together) for the first time on Thanksgiving. Jeff said his sister's disappearance 'haunted and consumed' him

Melissa and her mother Alta, who left her in the care of an unknown babysitter in Fort Worth in 1971

Melissa and her mother Alta, who left her in the care of an unknown babysitter in Fort Worth in 1971

Melissa hugging her dad, Jeffrie Highsmith for the first time in more than five decades

Melissa hugging her dad, Jeffrie Highsmith for the first time in more than five decades 

Alta Apantenco )left) and Jeffrie Highsmith (right) are reunited with with their daughter Melissa  (center) after searching for her for 51 years

Alta Apantenco )left) and Jeffrie Highsmith (right) are reunited with with their daughter Melissa  (center) after searching for her for 51 years 

 On Saturday Jeff introduced Melissa to her long lost parents - Sharon and Jeffrie Highsmith, who she hadn't seen in more than five decades

Sharon Highsmith wrote in a Facebook post about her miracle child that was found.

'Our finding Melissa was purely because of DNA, not because of any police or FBI involvement, podcast involvement, or even our family's own private investigations or speculations,' she said.

Jeff said the moment she met their parents she told them she wanted to change her name back to Melissa Highsmith.   

She also said she wanted to get remarried - she got married in April 2022 - so her 'daddy can walk her down the aisle,' he said.

Though Jeff says he and his family have no doubt that Melissa is their family member, she did take a second DNA test to confirm. She will provide them with results this Tuesday or Wednesday.

'We know it is Melissa,' the brother said. 

Jeff told the Daily Mail a woman by the name of Patricia 'Sugar' Lewis, raised his sister, posing as her mother, after the abduction. Jeff said that his sister think Lewis was the person who abducted her. Though, officials have not confirmed that she was the babysitter who kidnapped Melissa. 

Jeff says Lewis claims she was 19-years-old at the time she started taking care of Melissa and theories swirled that she bought her for $500 at a bar. 

'I don't buy the story. I think she is lying,' he said. 'She tried to defend herself and admitted to the crime on Facebook before she took it down.'

Jeff says it is not clear if Lewis or someone else was the person who abducted his sister 51 years ago. 

'We will go to the police and say, "We found Melissa now it is your job to find the person who abducted her."'

Jeff said now his sister was a young widow who had three children - a daughter and two sons.

Her husband had muscular dystrophy and after he died social services took her children away from her, who were only infants at the time.

Their ages are now 35, 37 and 38 years old.

'Life was tough for her,' he said. 'My new prayer is for my sister to get reunited with her children. We are hoping her children will have compassion.

Jeff said his mother was only 20 when his sister was abducted. He said his father, Jeffrie, who was 19 years old, left

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