This 5-Year-Old Was At A Neighborhood Christmas Party When Suddenly She Vanished Without A Trace

A Christmas party would soon be darkened by a strange and mysterious event that has yet to be solved.

A Devastating Occurence

It was a cold December day in Virginia, young Melissa Brannen is enjoying a neighborhood Christmas party with neighbors and friends. But this would be a party like no other, a police investigation would be launched. A mystery would soon unfold that would go on to haunt Melissa’s family for decades to come.

A Surprise Split

Melissa was born on April 13, 1984, to parents Michael and Tammy Brannen. Tragedy would strike the family when Melissa was just three years old. Amidst rumors of infidelity with neighborhood women, Michael and Tammy would go on to separate and divorce. Although Tammy won custody of Melissa, the little girl remained close to Michael, who continued to visit.

Difficult Times

In December 1989, Tammy and Melissa were living a residential complex located close to the Fort Belvoir army installation in Lorton, Virginia. Tammy struggled to support her daughter. The young mom would have to take on two jobs in order to make ends meet. During the week, she worked in an accountancy firm, while she worked weekends at a local jewelry shop.

Party Pressures

Tammy’s schedule would take its toll on the mother. She was often left exhausted after a long week of work. But on December 3rd, the Woodside Apartments were holding their annual Christmas party. Five-year-old Melissa was eager to attend, despite her mother’s protests.

The Sinister Stranger

Melissa eventually persuaded her mom to take her to the party. The clubhouse should have been a safe place for the pair to enjoy some downtime, but the evening would take a dramatic and devastating turn.

Party Gone Wrong

Christmas was a joyous occasion in the neighborhood. 80 People had gathered for the celebration, but amidst the friendly faces, there was one sinister man the unsuspecting party-goers were yet to notice.

She was a strange Child

Melissa was an odd and shy little girl, she spent most of the evening at her mother’s side, hesitant to talk to the other children. Despite having kept to herself, when Tammy decided that it was time for them to leave, Melissa begged to stay a little longer.

Where was She?

Tammy refused. The child had a nasty temper but she obliged. Reportedly, Melissa went to bid farewell to her few friends. Tammy finished a cigarette and went to pick up her coat, she searched the room for the young child.

A Devastating Turn

Tammy began to panic. The little girl seemed to have vanished. The frantic mother began to scour the clubhouse. Eventually, she came to a room with a “private” sign on its door. Inside the small, dark room, she found that, despite the cold weather, a small window was open. Had Melissa escaped into the night?

The Search Begins

After the mother searched the clubhouse for what seemed like hours, it soon became clear that Melissa had disappeared. Her child was missing. Police soon launched an in-depth investigation, news of the mystery surrounding the child became public knowledge. Pictures of the little girl were broadcast on the evening news.

A Search Party Gathers

In an unprecedented show of public support, more than 300 volunteers gathered to join in the search for Tammy’s daughter. The group scoured the surrounding areas for days. After hearing the shocking news, Melissa’s father, Michael, returned to Virginia by plane.

A Suspect is Revealed

By the time that Michael arrived, the media had learned of the story and the press viciously exploited the terrible news. After the investigation, police had discovered a suspect. They believed the local groundskeeper, Caleb Hughes, could have had a hand in the tragic disappearance of the young girl. He had started working at the apartment block three weeks before the Christmas party.

Terrifying Behavior

According to a number of witnesses who were at the Christmas party, Hughes had shocked neighbors with his inappropriate behavior. He had made unwanted advances to several female guests. The mysterious groundskeeper had a dark and sinister side. He had shown a disturbing level of interest in some of the much younger guests at the party, including young Melissa. The police soon made a surprise visit to Hughes’ home, located eight miles away from the Woodside Apartments.

Sinister Discoveries

At the apartment that he shared with his wife, Carol, the police searched for evidence that could incriminate the man. They found the clothes that the groundskeeper had been wearing the night of the party.

An Attempt to Hide the Evidence

The man had crammed the clothes into the washing machine, strangely, directly after he returned home from the party. The police noticed another bizarre detail’ it seemed that Hughes had sliced off part of the soles of his shoes. He was trying to hide something.

The Man Was Disturbed

The police had found another disturbing piece of evidence in the washing machine, amongst the clothes was a sheath designed to hold a large knife. Although the police searched the rest of the home, the knife that the sheath held was not found. Had Hughe’s hidden the weapon?


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Disturbing Evidence

Had Hughes been attempting to destroy evidence? The discoveries perturbed and shocked the investigators. The items, along with the suspect’s car, were confiscated.

The Investigation Continues

There were more strange discoveries to be made. The groundskeeper’s wife had more to reveal about the seemingly dangerous man. He had returned home much later than normal that night. His vehicle had counted noticeably more miles than what it would usually have taken him to return from the party.

The Lying Begins

Hughes claimed that he had stopped to buy beer on his route home, but the police officials remained unconvinced. He had reportedly returned home at 12:30 p.m., Virginia had a midnight cut-off for liquor purchases. Investigators soon found concerning fibers in the suspect’s vehicle…

The Case Unfolds

The fibers that had been discovered in the front seat of Hughes’ vehicle were a match for Melissa’s sweater that she had been wearing on the night of her disappearance. And that wasn’t all. The investigators discovered rabbit hairs inside the car. The very same hairs had been found on the coat that Tammy had been wearing that night.

An Arrest is Made

The evidence stacking up against the sinister suspect, the police were convinced that Hughes had abducted and Melissa and had taken her life. But without the discovery of Melissa, the officials would not be able to charge the groundskeeper with the crime.

The Struggle

Hughe’s became violent and tried to resist his arrest. After a lengthy struggle, he was finally arrested on suspicion of having kidnapped Melissa with the malicious intent to gravely harm the young child.

Justice is Served

On March 8, 1991, Hughes was convicted and sentenced 50 years behind bars. The evidence against the man had proved damning. Tammy and Melissa’s father were relieved to hear the twisted character would be kept far from the public for many, many years to come. But where was Melissa?

Legal Battles

In a shock move, Hughe’s lawyers appealed that the decision be reversed two years later, but Virginia Court of Appeals eventually decided to uphold the judgment against the wicked man. To this very day, Hughes remains in prison. He is expected to be released in 2025.

Where was her Daughter?

In the years following the devastating incident, Melissa has never been discovered. Faced with such horrific uncertainty, her mother still clings to the distant hope that her daughter may still be alive.

A Mother’s Love

Tammy has tried to live a normal life following the mysterious loss of her child. She has since remarried and tried to find happiness. Even though she now has stepchildren, Tammy has never stopped thinking about the daughter that she lost all those years ago.

Never Losing Hope

Her mother will never stop hoping to discover her daughter. “I think that there’s a very slim possibility that Hughe’s met someone and handed her off,” she told the Washington Post in 1999. “I still have dreams of being reunited with her.” No one knows what became of Melissa.