There’s nothing more devastating for a parent to experience than a kidnapping, especially when it’s done by one of the parents. And then to go years without knowing where they ended up, if at all? A Florida woman kept her secret for a long time, to the tune of 42 whole years, when she fled with her daughter back in 1983. Now, the search a family never gave up on finally came to fruition and ended in an arrest.
Bodycam footage of the arrest was taken by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and shared by WKMG_News6 on TikTok. It revealed 66-year-old Debra Newton, who went as “Sharon,” casually walking her dog and greeting a neighbor when officers approached her. Her neighbor, laughing, jokes, “Uh-Oh! They’re coming for you, Sharon,” only to be shocked when the police officers tell Sharon/Debra of her arrest warrant.
Officers explain to her she’s being arrested in connection with a missing child case all the way in Kentucky. Debra tells officers, “I don’t understand” and “I didn’t do anything” while they handcuff her until the lead detective arrives.
Apparently, the kidnapped daughter (46-year-old Michelle Newton) reported her kidnapping to police after she discovered what really happened to her. Now living with her mother and stepfather, she wanted to reunite with the family waiting for her back in Kentucky. Since her mother’s arrest, she reunited with her father (and his other side of the family). Talk about a family reunion!
Since the bodycam footage, Debra is facing charges for custodial interference, a felony offense, and was extradited to Kentucky. Colonel Healey at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said, “This case proves that one phone call can change a life,” referring to the Crime Stoppers tip that sealed Debra’s fate.
Commenters on social media, like TikTok, were elated karma caught up to Debra. Not to mention totally enamored with the neighbor witnessing the arrest.
“That other lady is about to go gossip,” said one commenter. The fact a neighbor’s silly taunt turned true was also a nice added bonus.
Naturally, someone had to be obtuse by stating, “Today I learned your mom can kidnap you,” as if being a parent excludes you. As another commenter pointed out, “Half of kidnapping cases are by a family and 90% of those are by a parent.”
I’m just glad Michelle’s father had the chance to see his daughter again after so many years. It’s a beautiful ending, even if it was decades in the making.
