In 1989, 5-year-old Melissa Brannen would attend a Christmas party with her mother, Tammy, at the Woodside Apartment complex in Lorton, Virginia. Before the night was finished, Melissa would go missing and she would never be seen again.

Police would quickly track down a suspect by the name of Caleb Hughes. His criminal past and odd behavior at the party drew suspicion from authorities and locals. Caleb’s name would be leaked to the media causing things to go from bad to worse.

Around this time, Fairfax County, Virginia would experience several near abductions. An 11-year-old girl would be grabbed by a man claiming to be a police offer on January the 17th. An 11-year-old school crossing guard was grabbed by an unknown man near the corner of North Kings Highway and Fort Drive.

A man attempted to force a 12-year-old Annandale boy into his white car. Were police focusing too much on Caleb Hughes or was he the culprit? Hughes would be put on trial, convicted, and sentenced to prison for the abduction of Melissa Brannen but the story was far from over.

This video chronicles the unsolved disappearance of Melissa Brannen.