logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
1h 30m

Gestohlene Kindheit: Melissa Highsmith

Leonie Bartsch & Linn Schütze
About this episode
#214: “Babysitter für meine 21 Monate alte Tochter gesucht.” Diese kurze Annonce schaltet Alta Highsmith am 18. August 1971 in der Lokalzeitung. Am Tag darauf meldet sich eine Babysitterin. Mit einem murmeligen Gefühl gibt Alta ihre kleine Tochter Melissa in die Obhut von Ruth Johnson, der Babysitterin. Doch zum verabredeten Zeitpunkt taucht Ruth nicht auf. ... Show More
Up next
Nov 23
Tiefe Spuren: Das Vermächtnis der Mavoko Drei
"Ein schöner Fluss mit dunklen Geheimnissen" sagt mir mein Begleiter, als ich am Athi River in der Nähe von Nairobi stehen. Wir schauen auf die dichten Wasserpflanzen, die an der Oberfläche einen dichten Teppich bilden. Genau hier finden Fischer regelmäßig tote Köper im Wasser. V ... Show More
1h 6m
Nov 16
Tiefe Spuren: Dein Freund und Täter
Folge 1 von Tiefe Spuren: Dein Freund und Täter Willie Kimani ist Anwalt. An diesem 23. Juni 2016 steht er im Gerichtssaal in Mavoko, Kenia, um einen Prozess zu führen, für den er lange gekämpft hat. Sein Mandant Josephat wurde Opfer von Polizeigewalt – und schwebt deshalb in gr ... Show More
55m 21s
Nov 9
Einsamer Heimweg
#279: Island gilt Mitte der 2010er-Jahre als eines der sichersten Länder der Welt. In Reykjavík lässt man die Haustür unverschlossen, trampt, um in einer eisigen Nacht schneller nach Hause zu kommen – und fühlt sich trotzdem sicher. Doch als die 20-jährige Birna Brjánsdóttir im J ... Show More
1h 15m
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2022
Melissa Highsmith Part 2: A Delicate Thread Unraveled
<p>Last week, we brought you the first part of Melissa Highsmith’s story. On August 23, 1971, 21-month-old Melissa was abducted by a woman who responded to a classified ad her mother placed in the local newspaper. Or, at least, that’s the story that Melissa’s mother and roommate ... Show More
52m 24s
Nov 2022
Melissa Highsmith Part 1: The Woman with White Gloves
<p>On August 18, 1971, a classified ad was published for a single day in the Fort Worth, Texas newspaper, the "Fort Worth Star-Telegram." The ad read, "Babysitter wanted from 8 to 3:30 days, Spanish Gate apartments, call after 3 pm" with a phone number listed. On August 23, 1971, ... Show More
48m 45s
Nov 2018
UPDATE: Alissa Turney
<p>An interview with Alissa's half-sister, Sarah, reveals she no longer thinks her sister ran away. She thinks Alissa was the victim of foul play and she alleges that the perpetrator may be her own father.<br /> </p><p>Sources for this episode cannot be listed here due to charact ... Show More
45m 18s
Dec 2021
A Bad Feeling
As TV producer Leah Rothman sets out to reinvestigate the horrific murder of 35 year-old JoAnn Tate and the savage attack on her two young daughters, she travels back to where it all took place: St. Louis, Missouri. Melissa, who barely survived that night, shares the moment-by-mo ... Show More
30 m
Nov 2018
MISSING: Alissa Turney
<p>In 2001 Mike Turney reported to Phoenix, Arizona police that his 17-year-old step-daughter, Alissa, had run away to California. But 7 years later, a serial killer comes forward with a story that would launch an investigation into her disappearance and make her family fear that ... Show More
29m 50s
Jan 2023
Missing Baby Found After 51 Years: The Incredible Story of Melissa Highsmith
Melissa Highsmith had been missing for the last 51 years – since she was a baby. After years of feeling like they’d never see her again or have closure, her family’s wish came true, and Melissa was recently finally reunited with those she lost so long ago. Shop my charity merch! ... Show More
36m 13s
Dec 2021
The Hunt Is On
The search is on for JoAnn Tate’s killer. Melissa becomes Metro P.D.’s most prized eyewitness, but it takes a nearly month and a look into the pages of JoAnn’s diary before Melissa points the finger at Rodney Lincoln, an ex-boyfriend of her mom’s. Lincoln’s daughters watch in hor ... Show More
29m 47s
Oct 2018
Broken
Melissa was 15 years old when she found out her father was a serial killer, and the news couldn’t have arrived at a worse time: she just found out she was pregnant. Melissa confronts her high school boyfriend to get a better grasp on the time. Melissa G. Moore: IG @melissag.moore ... Show More
30m 30s