Bodycam footage reveals the unexpected arrest of a woman accused of abducting a three-year-old girl over 40 years ago.
In a quiet Florida neighborhood, police detained Debra Newton, accused of taking a toddler decades earlier in a case that had remained unsolved for years.
As officers arrived at the scene, the atmosphere was initially casual. A neighbor, unaware of the seriousness, joked, “uh oh, they’re coming for you,” when police arrived at the suburban street in The Villages, situated in Florida.
An officer approached Newton, asking casually, “How you doing, miss Sharon?” Newton, who was later identified, responded courteously, believing the officers were there for someone else. “They don’t want me. They want Reggie,” she remarked.
The neighbor continued with the jest, adding, “Uhoh. They’re coming for you, Sharon.”
The tone shifted when an officer said firmly, “Well, we’re here for you, ma’am. Definitely here for you.”
At first, the neighbor thought the officers were joking, until being gently escorted away after realizing the situation’s seriousness.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” the neighbor said, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Newton looked puzzled, repeatedly stating, “I don’t understand,” as officers informed her about an outstanding warrant and the need to handcuff her while waiting for a detective.
Newton claimed she was innocent, questioning the officers about the situation, but they assured her that everything would soon be explained.
Tracing back to 1983, Newton disappeared from Louisville, Kentucky, with her daughter Michelle Newton, who was three at the time.
Newton had informed Michelle’s father, Joseph Newton, of her plans to move to Georgia for employment and setting up a new home. They kept in contact briefly, but when Joseph visited Georgia, they were gone.
The ensuing investigation led to Newton being listed on the FBI’s parental kidnapping list. The case was eventually dropped due to administrative issues, and Michelle was removed from missing-person databases in the early 2000s. They lived under assumed names for decades.
Interest in the case resurfaced in 2024, following the release of age-progressed images. A tip directed authorities to Marion County, Florida, where Newton was discovered living as Sharon, having remarried and retired.
DNA testing confirmed Newton’s identity through a 99.9 percent match with her sister.
Michelle, now 46, was informed of her true identity in a life-changing revelation: “You’re not who you think you are. You’re a missing person. You’re Michelle Marie Newton.”
Newton has been transported to Kentucky, where she faces a charge of felony custodial interference. She has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court on January 23.
Michelle expressed a desire for healing, supporting both parents as the family deals with the aftermath of a secret hidden for 42 years.