BABY

About BABY

How do you know you're lost, if you don’t even know you're missing? The remarkable story of Melissa Highsmith being found 51 years after being kidnapped as a baby made global headlines, but the shocking details of what actually happened to her and the family that never stopped looking for her has never been fully told – until now. Melissa Highsmith was abducted as a 21-month-old girl from her Fort Worth, Texas home on August 23, 1971 by a mysterious babysitter. In a stunning turn of events, Melissa would finally be reunited with her biological family so many years later. Award-winning podcasters Sean Kipe and Jason Hoch bring Melissa’s exclusive story and explosive new details to the 51-year kidnapping saga. BABY: The Melissa Highsmith Story is a 7-episode limited podcast series and is a production of Particle Entertainment and Wavland.

Publisher

Particle Entertainment and Wavland

Category

society & culture · true crime

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

6 of 6 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Unexpected | Chapter 5

   Host Sarah Koenig interviews Melissa Highsmith's family about her unexpected return after 50 years, exploring the emotional aftermath and future possibilities.

2. 

   12 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Search | Chapter 4

   Melanie searches for her children as her unknown brother begins his own quest in this compelling narrative episode.

3. 

   5 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   The Deep | Chapter 3

   Host [Host Name] explores the near-discovery of Melissa Highsmith decades ago, revealing a chilling twist in this interview.

4. 

   28 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   My Name is Melanie | Chapter 2

   Melanie Miyoko shares her early childhood experiences and feelings of unease at home in this personal narrative.

5. 

   21 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Gone, Baby | Chapter 1

   Host Ruth Johnson investigates the abduction of 21-month-old Melissa Highsmith by a fake babysitter, uncovering lingering questions and rumors.

6. 

   17 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Trailer: BABY: The Melissa Highsmith Story

   This interview explores Melissa Highsmith's incredible journey of being found 51 years after her kidnapping, revealing the untold story of her disappearance and the family's enduring search.

Inside a recent episode

The Unexpected | Chapter 5

Published 19 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] I think she guarded me, and my life was really, really sheltered because of that reason. She didn't want nobody to find me. She even went as far as tattooing me to cover my birthmark up. I mean, I was two years old. I've had that tattoo all of my life. It's a cross and it's right where my birthmark was. So she, everything she did was deliberate. Everything Melanie's mother did as she was growing up was an attempt to hide the truth. She wanted no one to discover her daughter's true identity and never wanted Melanie to figure it out. Now, it all made sense. The tattoo over her birthmark, the claims of brain damage, and being locked in her room and never allowed to play outside or have friends over. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

19 ratings