Texas woman kidnapped as a baby 51 years ago reunites with family
Texas woman believed to be 1971 kidnap victim reunites with family
A Texas woman kidnapped as a baby 51 years ago was reunited with her family after they used a home DNA test kit to track her down.
Melissa Highsmith was 22 months old when she was allegedly abducted in August 1971 by a babysitter from her family’s Fort Worth apartment, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth .
Her mother, Alta Apantenco, was reportedly accused by police of possibly killing her daughter and hiding the crime, the news station reported. The family, however, said Highsmith was taken from the home by a babysitter who answered Apantenco’s newspaper advertisement seeking help.
They spent more than five decades looking for Highsmith before a DNA match on 23andMe provided a break in the case.
Read more from NBC News.
Copyright 2022 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.
Body found during search for missing San Antonio teen ▶ 1:11
Body found during search for missing San Antonio teen
Man dies days after Christmas eve hit-and-run in southeast Houston, police seek help ▶ 1:45
Man dies days after Christmas eve hit-and-run in southeast Houston, police seek help
VIDEO: Body camera, surveillance footage show events leading to HPD shooting in NW Houston ▶ 2:31
VIDEO: Body camera, surveillance footage show events leading to HPD shooting in NW Houston
Top headlines for Dec. 30, 2025 | Houston news update ▶ 1:46
Top headlines for Dec. 30, 2025 | Houston news update
‘There is not a serial killer’: Harris County DA disputes rumors after more bodies found in bayous ▶ 2:37
‘There is not a serial killer’: Harris County DA disputes rumors after more bodies found in bayous
Here's your forecast for New Year's week ▶ 1:34
Here's your forecast for New Year's week
Houston’s new short-term rental ordinance takes effect Thursday after Third Ward shooting ▶ 1:15
Houston’s new short-term rental ordinance takes effect Thursday after Third Ward shooting
A look at today's top stories in Houston and beyond ▶ 1:42
A look at today's top stories in Houston and beyond
30-Degree Temperature Drop, Scattered Showers, and Wind ▶ 1:06
30-Degree Temperature Drop, Scattered Showers, and Wind
Woman dies on freeway after being rearended ▶ 1:25
Woman dies on freeway after being rearended
2 teens shot outside house party in Houston ▶ 1:47
2 teens shot outside house party in Houston
Recognize these hats or the people in this video? 👀 ▶ 2:10
Recognize these hats or the people in this video? 👀
FAQ: Bodies in the Bayou ▶ 2:18
FAQ: Bodies in the Bayou
Deputy joins kids in foot race during Christmas patrol ▶ 0:27
Deputy joins kids in foot race during Christmas patrol
Cold front coming to Houston after hot Christmas ▶ 1:08
Cold front coming to Houston after hot Christmas
Top Headlines for Today, Dec. 26, 2025 ▶ 1:21
Top Headlines for Today, Dec. 26, 2025
Deadly officer-involved shooting near 288 & Almeda Genoa ▶ 0:59
Deadly officer-involved shooting near 288 & Almeda Genoa
Houston experiences its THIRD WARMEST CHRISTMAS! ▶ 0:40
Houston experiences its THIRD WARMEST CHRISTMAS!
VIDEO: Authorities warn about drowsy driving after car crashes into 18-wheeler ▶ 0:41
VIDEO: Authorities warn about drowsy driving after car crashes into 18-wheeler
’Twas The Night Before Christmas as $1.7B Powerball dreams grow in Houston ▶ 1:11
’Twas The Night Before Christmas as $1.7B Powerball dreams grow in Houston
Here's how you can track Santa tonight ▶ 1:30
Here's how you can track Santa tonight
He watched, waited, and pulled the trigger. The Evidence Room: “The Sniper”. Streaming on KPRC 2+ ▶ 0:29
He watched, waited, and pulled the trigger. The Evidence Room: “The Sniper”. Streaming on KPRC 2+
We're getting to know NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas during his visit to the KPRC News studio! ▶ 0:33
We're getting to know NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas during his visit to the KPRC News studio!
Saving lions: The pride of Kenya ▶ 1:30
Saving lions: The pride of Kenya
Christmas Eve Super Feast ready to feed thousands of families ▶ 2:17
Christmas Eve Super Feast ready to feed thousands of families
Previous photo Next photo