Case Details

Photo URLs:

This person was missing Missing Since 12/03/1989

Missing Since:

Missing Since 12/03/1989

Missing From:

Missing From Lorton, Virginia

Classification:

Classification Non-Family Abduction

Gender:

Female

Race:

Race White

Date of Birth:

Date of Birth 04/13/1984 (40)

Age:

Age 5 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 3’0, 38 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Clothing/Jewelry Description A pink hooded jacket, a navy blue acrylic J.C. Penney sweater with red and blue plaid sleeves, navy blue cuffs and a yellow applique of the Sesame Street character Big Bird on the front, a red and blue plaid cotton skirt, red tights and black patent leather shoes with gold bows. Photos of Melissa’s coat, sweater and skirt are posted with this case summary.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Light brown hair, blue eyes. Melissa has a burn scar on her right forearm.

Details of Disappearance:

On December 3, 1989, Melissa disappeared from a holiday party in her apartment complex in Lorton, Virginia. She was about to leave with her mom, but went back for more chips and vanished. About 80 people were at the party.

Caleb Hughes, a groundskeeper who’d only worked at the complex for two weeks, immediately became a suspect. He was at the party, near Melissa when she was last seen, and left around the same time she disappeared. Police found him at 1 a.m. the next day, after he’d already washed his party clothes.

The FBI found hair, blood, and fibers in Hughes’ car. The blood and hair could have come from Melissa, but also many other people. However, rabbit fur from the car matched Melissa’s jacket, and blue and red fibers matched her clothes.

In 1991, Hughes was convicted of kidnapping Melissa with the intent to harm her and sentenced to 50 years in prison. He always claimed he was innocent. He had good behavior, so he was released in 2019 after serving 29 years.

Two other men were convicted of trying to get ransom money from Melissa’s mom, but they weren’t involved in her disappearance. Melissa has never been found, and police believe she was harmed.

Agency:

Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department

Source Links: