Family gets tearful after finding daughter who was kidnapped as toddler 51 years ago

Melissa Highsmith, who grew up as Melanie Miyoko, has finally been officially identified as the Texas woman who was abducted in 1971. The Fort Worth Police Department confirmed the identity of Melissa Highsmith through DNA testing. The now 53-year-old woman, who was abducted as a 22-month-old in 1971, reunited with her biological family last year. "It is our hope that this test result will offer additional closure for the Highsmith family," a police spokesperson said in a statement per PEOPLE.

The family previously told the outlet that their own DNA match had already confirmed the news that they waited for all these years. Melissa's sister has criticized how authorities handled the case, writing on Facebook, "We found our kidnapped missing sister two days before Thanksgiving, and the police are just now confirming her DNA. Shame on you Fort Worth police for not solving my sister’s crime!" Calling their efforts a "horrible job" she claimed officials "had several leads and did not follow up on them. We did your job for you. Out of 1000 cold cases only 2 have been solved, and my sister was one of those. And not because the police solved that case!!"

Back in November 2022, Melissa finally met her real parents. In a sit-down interview with WFAA, she said, "I feel like I am dreaming, and I keep having to pinch myself to make sure I'm awake."

"I’m just elated, I can't describe my feelings. I'm so happy to see my daughter that I didn't think I would ever see her again," said Alta Apantenco, Melissa’s mother. "She's alive... I cried like a baby," added Jeffrie Highsmith, Melissa's father.

Apantenco was hopeless after searching for her daughter for 51 years and though she believed she was alive, Apantenco did not want to be involved in the search. Earlier, DNA Genetic testing matched them. After that, they also connected with each other on Facebook. When they told her the story of Melissa being kidnapped, she said, "I'm sorry, I don't think I'm that person," recalled Apantenco. After that her brother Jeff asked her if she would like to take a DNA test and she was still not convinced until she saw the baby's picture. "Once I saw the baby picture, and I put my baby picture against it, it's like my twin."

Alta, 73, and Jeff, 72, believe it is God who brought the family back together. "We give all the credit to God. We really believe it was — we're people of faith, and we believe it was through prayer," Jeff said. "God is an amazing God, and he can do anything," added Alta. "He's a way maker, a miracle worker, a promise keeper, a light in the darkness. That's my God."