In 1991, Melissa Gooding kidnapped her 2-year-old daughter, Lisa Gooding. Melissa’s parents accompanied the mother and daughter, and Lisa grew up in the company of her mother and grandparents. The family adopted assumed names and moved every few years (they lived in Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Utah before settling in Texas). Lisa was homeschooled and was never left alone with anyone outside of the family. Lisa’s father hired a private detective who eventually tracked the family down after 11 years. Lisa, by then 13 years old, was returned to her father, who had been awarded custody in 1991 before her kidnapping. News reports also identify the mother and daughter as Melissa Board and Kimber Board.
Date: September 17, 2002
Location: Corinth, Texas
| Documents: | Date: |
| Mother arrested 11 years after child’s kidnapping | 2002-09-19 |
| Father reunited with daughter after being kidnapped by mother | 2002-09-19 |
| Dad: “We’re going to try to start a normal life” | 2002-09-20 |
| Home-Schooling Freedoms Help Parents Who Abduct Children | 2004-11-18 |
| Clay Doan: Sheriff’s Deputy |
