Kidnapped Texas Woman 51 Years Ago Regains Birth Name and Reconnects with Biological Family

Melissa Highsmith, the kidnapped Texas woman has recently legally changed her name back to her birth name following a heartwarming reunion with the family she was stolen from.

She was abducted from her biological parents in 1971 as a baby and raised by another family.

Melissa Highsmith (middle) and her parents, Alta Apantenco and Jeffrie Highsmith. (Photo: HIGHSMITH FAMILY)

Kidnapped Texas Woman Regains Birth Name

In a touching courtroom scene last Wednesday, the kidnapped Texas woman Melissa, formerly known as Melanie Walden, stood before a judge in Tarrant County, Texas, accompanied by her biological parents.

She successfully obtained a legal name change, adopting the name Melissa Highsmith.

The emotional moment was captured in a video of the proceeding, which was shared by NBC-DFW reporter Alanna Quillen.

According to PEOPLE, the courtroom erupted into a sustained standing ovation, reflecting the joy and support surrounding kidnapped Texas woman Melissa’s reunion with her long-lost family.

As her father, Jeffrie Highsmith, expressed his gratitude to the judge, saying, “Thank you, your honor,” the judge himself rose to his feet, removed his glasses, and joined in the heartfelt applause.

The judge later commemorated the occasion by posing for a photo with the reunited family, capturing the significance of the moment for all involved.

The kidnapped Texas woman, Melissa was abducted from her Fort Worth, Texas, home on August 23, 1971, when she was just a toddler. The kidnapper had posed as a babysitter, perpetrating a heart-wrenching separation that would last for over five decades.

Remarkably, Melissa was raised only 10 minutes away from her biological family, living as Melanie Miyoko. However, at the age of 15, she ran away from home, unaware of her true origins.

Reflecting on her childhood with her adoptive family, Melissa, now 53, told PEOPLE last November, “Me and my mom were never close… And the whole time I was there, it was a bad childhood.” She spoke of the restrictions she endured, noting, “I wasn’t allowed to go outside and play, or she always sheltered me.”

Her adoptive mother had falsely claimed that kidnapped Texas woman Melissa had brain damage due to being born at home, using this as a justification for her sheltered upbringing.

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Kidnapped Texas Woman Reconnects with Biological Family

After years of tireless searching, the kidnapped Texas woman’s biological family finally discovered her whereabouts.

The breakthrough came when Melissa’s biological father, Jeffrie Highsmith, took a 23andMe DNA test, revealing a connection between himself and one of Melissa’s three children.

The revelation shattered Melissa’s perception of her life, as she realized that “my whole life was a lie,” as she previously told the Star-Telegram of Fort Worth.

Six months later, the Fort Worth Police Department announced the confirmation of kidnapped Texas woman’s identity through a DNA test, providing an official acknowledgment of her true lineage.

A police spokesperson shared a statement with PEOPLE, expressing the hope that “this test result will offer additional closure for the Highsmith family.”

The news was met with immense relief and happiness by Melissa’s sister, Rebecca Highsmith Del Bosque, who took to Facebook to share their family’s elation, stating, “We now have OFFICIAL confirmation that she is ours! Our family is whole.”

While the kidnapped Texas woman’s family seeks answers and justice, they face the disappointing reality that criminal charges may not be possible due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

However, the Fort Worth Police Department remains committed to pursuing the investigation, aiming to uncover any available information related to the kidnapped Texas woman’s abduction that occurred 51 years ago.

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