An abduction case that spanned many years has lastly been resolved with the arrest of a Kentucky lady who’s accused of kidnapping her baby, transferring to Florida, then altering her id and remarrying.
Based on WOFL, 66-year-old Debra Newton was arrested on Dec. 15 in entrance of her residence in Marion County, Florida. She faces custodial interference costs for allegedly fleeing from Louisville, Kentucky, along with her 3-year-old daughter, Michelle, in April 1983.
Debra claimed she was relocating to Georgia for a brand new job, however vanished along with her daughter and lower off communication along with her husband and Michelle’s father, Joe Newton.
Debra was indicted for custodial interference and was wished on an FBI Illegal Flight to Keep away from Prosecution. At one level, she made the FBI’s checklist for High 8 Most Wished parental-kidnapping fugitives.
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The case went chilly in 2000, and Michelle was taken off the lacking baby database. The case was reopened in 2016 on the request of a member of the family, and a grand jury reindicted Newton the 12 months after that.
In 2025, detectives acquired a breakthrough tip via Crimestoppers about Newton’s whereabouts, which finally cracked the case. The tipster notified deputies {that a} lady resembling Newton was residing in Marion County and glided by the identify “Sharon.”
She not solely modified her identify but additionally remarried, made a brand new life for herself, and at last retired to an upscale retirement neighborhood referred to as The Villages along with her husband. A photograph and DNA from Newton’s sister confirmed “Sharon” was, in truth, Debra.
Bodycam footage reveals the second deputies approached Newton as she was strolling her canine to ship the information about her arrest.
One among her neighbors jokingly blurts out, “Uh-oh! They’re coming for you, Sharon!”
When Newton asks why the deputies are there, one says, “Properly, we’re right here for you, ma’am. Positively right here for you.”
The deputies dismiss Newton’s neighbor, who nonetheless thinks they’re joking, then clarify to Newton that they’ve a warrant for her arrest.
“I didn’t do something,” Newton says as she’s being handcuffed.
Newton was extradited to Kentucky. The felony custodial interference offense she faces has no statute of limitations.
Her daughter, Michelle, now 46, was reunited along with her father and prolonged kin.
Joe Newton stated he’d looked for his spouse and baby for 3 years after they disappeared. He spoke to WLKY in 1983 after they vanished.
He stated the household was making ready to maneuver to Georgia and thought Debra had gone forward of him with Michelle. Nevertheless, when he acquired to Georgia, they have been gone. He stated the final time he spoke to his spouse was between 1984 and 1985. Then he by no means heard from her once more.
“She’s all the time been in my coronary heart,” Newton instructed WLKY of his daughter. “I can’t clarify that second of that lady strolling in and getting to place my arms again round my daughter.”
Michelle’s identify was additionally modified when her mom relocated to Florida. She recalled the moments police got here to her door after she acquired residence from work to interrupt the information.
“You’re not who you assume you might be. You’re a lacking individual. You’re Michelle Marie Newton,” she was instructed.
Michelle added that she desires to work with each her dad and mom via the subsequent steps of this case.
“My intention is to help them each via this and making an attempt to navigate and assist them each simply wrap it up in order that we will all heal and hopefully, , there’s simply apologies and begin therapeutic,” she stated.
It’s nonetheless unclear why Debra Newton left her husband. She is predicted again in court docket on Jan. 23.
