On this day, Dec. 3, 1989
Examiner Staff Writer 12/3/08
Five-year-old Fairfax girl Melissa Brannen disappeared from a Christmas party and it took an intense forensic investigation to find her abductor, party guest Caleb Hughes.Police interviewed every person who attended the party at Melissa’s parents’ house and learned that Hughes had left the party around the time Melissa was discovered missing. Detectives soon caught up to Hughes at his home and found him washing his clothes, shoes and belt. He denied having contact with the girl, but investigators searched his home.
Running tape across the surfaces of Hughes’ house and clothes, forensic experts were able to collect hairs and fibers. Through that process, investigators discovered 50 blue fibers that likely matched Sesame Street pajamas Melissa was wearing, but with the clothes missing, they couldn’t directly link the two.
But investigators were able to obtain the same pajama outfit from the manufacturer. The fibers matched and Hughes was convicted of abduction with intent to defile on March 8, 1991. He is serving a 50-year prison sentence. Melissa was never found.
1 Comments
Reader Comments:
POSTED Dec 3, 2008
mel: "So so sad. Thoughts with Melissa's family."