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Saturday May 30, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
For decades, Michelle Newton was listed as a missing person — but she had no idea.

In 1983, when she was just three years old, her mother, Debra Newton, took her from Louisville, Kentucky under the pretense of relocating for a job. Just like that, the little girl vanished from the life of her father and extended family. Investigators later issued a custodial interference indictment and even placed Debra on the FBI’s Top 8 Most Wanted parental-kidnapping list, but the trail went cold and the case faded from public view for more than 40 years.

In 2025, a Crime Stoppers tip led authorities to a woman living in The Villages, Florida, under the name Sharon Nealy — an identity Debra had used for decades while building a quiet life and remarrying. When police confirmed who she really was and arrested her, the breakthrough also led to Michelle discovering her own history, realizing she had been a missing child her entire life, and reconnecting with her biological father, Joseph Newton, nearly half a century later.

In this remarkable session, Criminally Obsessed host Anne Emerson sits down with Michelle and Joseph to talk about the surreal moment Michelle learned her true identity, what it was like for her to meet the family who never stopped searching, and how they’re all navigating life after uncovering a past Michelle never knew — all against the backdrop of a case that shows how truth can emerge even after decades in the shadows.
Moderators
avatar for Anne Emerson

Anne Emerson

Host, Criminally Obsessed
Anne Emerson is an Edward R. Murrow and Emmy Award-winning investigative journalist with more than 30 years of experience. She is the host of Criminally Obsessed, a daily true crime podcast that can be seen on YouTube and heard wherever you listen to podcasts.Anne has reported everywhere from global conflict zones to America’s most notorious courtrooms. She got her start in South Africa for ABC News during the country’s transition from apartheid – an experience that shaped her lifelong focus... Read More →
Speakers
avatar for Michelle Newton

Michelle Newton

Former Missing Person
My story centers on the discovery that I had been a missing person for over four decades. What began as a personal search for truth uncovered a complex history of deception, identity, and unanswered questions that continue to affect not only my life, but potentially others as well... Read More →
avatar for Joseph Newton

Joseph Newton

Father of Michelle Newton
I am Joseph Newton, the biological father of Michelle Newton, who was taken from my life as a young child under circumstances that were never fully explained or resolved. For over 40 years, I lived without answers, continuing to search for the truth and for my daughter. Her recent... Read More →
Sponsors
avatar for Criminally Obsessed

Criminally Obsessed

First on scene, uniting armchair detectives in their quest to crack the case. Follow Criminally Obsessed for all things true crime.
Saturday May 30, 2026 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Breakout 2

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