UPDATE: A woman suspected of kidnapping her daughter over 40 years ago has been arrested in a dramatic police operation captured on bodycam footage. Debra Newton, age 66, was taken into custody outside her home in a Florida retirement community while walking her dog, shocking her neighbors who initially thought it was a joke.
The arrest took place in late November, when officers from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department confronted Newton, revealing there was a warrant for her arrest. Her friend laughed, saying, “Uh oh, they’re coming for you,” unaware of the serious nature of the situation. Newton is accused of abducting her three-year-old daughter, Michelle, from their Louisville, Kentucky home in April 1983 and living under a new identity for decades.
After years of searching, the case gained traction when a tip from Crime Stoppers led authorities to Newton’s new life as “Sharon” in The Villages, Florida. In the shocking footage, a neighbor can be heard joking, “They’re messing with you, Sharon,” as officers assured her the arrest was real.
Newton’s life of anonymity came crashing down as she was handcuffed and placed into a patrol car, leaving her husband bewildered. “I didn’t do anything,” she claimed as chaos unfolded around her. Following her arrest, Newton was extradited to Kentucky, where a family member posted her bond.
On December 8, 2025, she appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to charges of custodial interference, which have no statute of limitations. This means prosecutors can pursue the case regardless of how much time has passed since the alleged crime.
More than four decades ago, Newton and her husband, Joe Newton, were preparing to move to Georgia for a job opportunity when Michelle vanished. Joe believed his daughter would be lost forever after receiving a final phone call in 1985. The search for Michelle lasted 17 years before the case was closed in 2000, only to be reopened in 2016.
In a breakthrough earlier this year, a dedicated amateur detective identified a potential match for the woman living under a different name. The U.S. Marshal Task Force conducted a DNA comparison, resulting in a 99.9 percent match to confirm Newton’s identity and her alleged 43-year deception.
Authorities located Michelle, now 45, living unaware of her past. She was reunited with her father, who expressed his overwhelming emotions, stating, “She’s always been in our heart.” The two had not seen each other since 1983.
Newton is scheduled to return to court on January 23, with both Joe and Michelle reportedly attending her initial hearing. This case has reignited a national conversation about parental abduction, the long-term effects on families, and the tireless efforts of law enforcement to bring closure to such heartbreaking situations.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to develop.
