The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says Michelle “Shelley” Newton, abducted at age three in 1983, has been located and reunited with her Kentucky family after more than 40 years. A Crime Stoppers tip led investigators to a woman in Marion County, Florida; a photo comparison and a 99.9% DNA match to Debra Newton’s sister confirmed the identification. Debra, 66, was arraigned on a felony custodial-interference charge; Michelle, now 46, is reconnecting with her father and family.
Reunited After 40+ Years: Missing Kentucky Girl Found, Mother Arraigned on Felony Charge
Joseph Newton and his daughter Michelle Newton reunite after more than 40 years apart. - WLKY
An undated missing-persons flyer from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office showed three-year-old Michelle “Shelley” Newton in a sailor outfit, smiling and revealing the gap between her front baby teeth. The flyer bluntly stated: “Michelle was taken by her Mother.”
Now 46, Michelle has been reunited with her Kentucky family after more than four decades, and her mother, Debra Newton, 66, has been arraigned on a felony custodial-interference charge related to the 1983 disappearance.
Michelle Newton at age 3. - Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Background
The child vanished in the spring of 1983 after Debra told relatives she planned to relocate the family from Louisville, Kentucky, to Georgia “to begin a new job and prepare a new home for the family,” according to a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office news release. Joseph Newton, Michelle’s father, searched for years and told CNN affiliate WLKY in 1986 that he arrived at the planned destination only to find mother and child gone.
Investigative History
Law enforcement records show a “final phone call” between Debra and Joseph sometime between 1984 and 1985, after which “both mother and daughter vanished.” A custodial-interference indictment and warrant followed. At one point investigators believed the pair may have been in Clayton County, Georgia. Debra’s name later appeared on the FBI’s list of “Top 8 Most Wanted parental-kidnapping fugitives.”
Michelle Newton sits with her father retelling how this story unfolded. - WLKY
The case experienced several setbacks: in 2000 the Commonwealth of Kentucky dismissed Michelle’s case after officials could not reach her father, and by 2005 Michelle had been removed from national missing-children databases and the related warrant was recalled “due to inaccurate information.” Detectives reindicted the matter in 2016 after a family member urged a renewed review of the cold case.
What Led to the Breakthrough
Earlier this year a Crime Stoppers tip identified a woman living in Marion County, Florida, who was using a different name. A U.S. Marshals Task Force detective compared a recent photo of the Florida woman to a 1983 image of Debra; a Jefferson County detective confirmed the resemblance. DNA collected from Debra’s sister in Louisville produced a 99.9% match to the Florida woman, providing strong confirmation.
Debra Newton appears in court on Monday. Michelle and Joseph Newton were in attendance. - WLKY
When officers knocked on the door, Michelle — who had been living under another identity — said police told her, “You’re not who you think you are. You’re a missing person. You’re Michelle Marie Newton.” After learning her history, Michelle contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and was reunited with relatives she had not seen in decades, including her father.
Aftermath and Legal Status
Debra Newton voluntarily appeared in court for arraignment in Louisville and was formally charged with felony custodial interference. In Kentucky, felony custodial-kidnapping charges carry no statute of limitations. A family member traveled to Kentucky and posted bond on Debra’s behalf. Both Michelle and Joseph attended the arraignment.
Reunion and Reactions
Chief Deputy Col. Steve Healey credited persistent detective work and the decisive tip that led to the identification. “She told us she didn’t realize she was a victim until she saw everything she had missed,” Healey said. Joseph described the reunion emotionally: “I can’t explain that moment of walking in and getting to put my arms back around my daughter.”
Michelle has publicly said she wants to support both parents through the legal and emotional process. “My intention is to support them both through this and try to navigate and help them both just wrap it up so that we can all heal,” she told WLKY.
Why This Matters
This case highlights how long-term cold cases can be resolved through tips, photo analysis and modern DNA comparisons — and how a single phone call from the public can lead to life-changing results for victims and families.
