Current Date: 13 Jul, 2026
{{entry.title}}

A woman who had been lost since she was a newborn 51 years ago was said to have been spotted

A woman who had been lost since she was a newborn for 51 years was reported to have been sighted.

The missing woman, known as Melissa Highsmith, was reported as having been seen last month by a tipper, according to a tweet from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the US.

On August 23, 1971, Melissa, who was only 21 months old, disappeared from Fort Worth, Texas. In Charleston, South Carolina, more than a thousand miles from where she vanished, she was allegedly seen.

John Bischoff, director of NCMEC’s Missing Children Division, says it’s uncommon to get tips about missing person cases that are older than ten years. It’s not impossible, though, and the group is pleased that Melissa’s case is still in progress despite the passage of time.

Bischoff told Fox News Digital, “At NCMEC, we will never forget about a missing kid, and we are happy to see that much of the community has not forgotten about Melissa either.

Bischoff called it “amazing” that the tipster still recognized Melissa despite the significant age difference between the middle-aged Melissa and the infant photo that was used to identify her.

According to NCMEC, Melissa was kidnapped by the babysitter her mother had hired to look over her.

Melissa’s mother, who worked as a waitress at the time of her disappearance, had advertised in a neighborhood newspaper to find a babysitter for her little daughter. The woman who responded to the advertisement was to meet with Melissa’s mother at the restaurant, but she never did.

Later, the woman called Melissa’s mother and expressed her desire for the position. She then disclosed to her that she had a sizable yard and was also looking after other kids.

The hired babysitter arrived to pick up Melissa from their residence. The babysitter was described by the mother’s roommate as “pleasant and was dressed to impress” while the mother was at work.

Melissa was not given back to her mother, therefore that was the last time she would see her.

NCMEC advised concerned residents who may have information to call them after reporting that the tipster observed Melissa in the vicinity of Daniel Island.

Similar Stories
Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Australian man dies, comes back to life, and wins the lottery twice

Bill Morgan, an Australian, is a man who has beat the odds. He escaped death by surviving a horrific automobile accident and heart attack before collapsing into a coma and going on to win the lotto twice. He went from losing virtually everything to winning far more than he could have imagined.

Water park in japan, ocean dome: Largest indoor water park in the world

Water park in japan, ocean dome: Largest indoor water park in the world

The Seagaia Ocean Dome, located in Miyazaki, Japan, was the biggest indoor waterpark in the world. An "Ocean" six times the size of an Olympic pool, filled with 13,500 tons of unsalted, chlorinated water kept heated at 28 degrees Celsius and recognized as the largest simulated pool by the Guinness Book of World Records, measures 12,000 square meters of the sandy beach made from 600 tons of stone.

How Magic Johnson Missed Out On $7 Billion Nike deal

How Magic Johnson Missed Out On $7 Billion Nike deal

Magic Johnson turned down a deal with Nike in 1979 that offered him 100,000 shares of stock and $1 for every pair of shoes sold. Instead, he chose Converse, which offered him $100,000 per year. Johnson lost about $5 billion by declining the Nike deal.

Leo Grand: from homeless to mobile app developer

Leo Grand: from homeless to mobile app developer

In 2013, A young programmer offered a homeless man the choice between $100 cash or coding lessons. Leo Grand chose the lessons, and his first mobile app was “Trees for Cars," which helps drivers find carpooling partners.

The accidentally discovery of Riace bronzes

The accidentally discovery of Riace bronzes

Stefano Mariottini was snorkeling off the coast of Monasterace near Riace in 1972 when he noticed a human hand sticking out of the sand and called the police, thinking it was a corpse. It was actually two statues of "Warriors from Riace" - 5th century BC Greek bronze statues.

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast

In 2008 Quaker parrot Willie alerted his owner Megan Howard when the little girl she was babysitting began to choke. Howard was in the bathroom when the parrot repeatedly yelled "Mama! Baby!" flapping his wings. Megan rushed and performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving her life. Willie received the Red Cross Animal Lifesaver Award.

Missing Masterpiece Discovered in the Background of ‘Stuart Little’

Missing Masterpiece Discovered in the Background of ‘Stuart Little’

In 2009, Gergely Barki, an art historian, was watching the film Stuart Little (1999) when he spotted an original long-lost painting used as a prop. Called Sleeping Lady with Black Vase, this painting was the work of Hungarian avant-garde painter Róbert Berény. The painting had been considered lost after World War II.

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Before "The Rock," There Was "Rocky Maivia"

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s first WWF persona was Rocky Maivia, a face (good guy). The audience rejected him due to his cheesy character, with chants of “Die, Rocky, die!”. After this, he became a heel (villain), referring to himself in the third person as “The Rock” and insulting the audience.