Detectives Seek Public’s Help in Solving 1989 Cold Case

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Franconia Police District – It has been 30 years since 5-year-old Melissa Brannen was abducted from the Lorton area of Fairfax County. Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau Cold Case Squad are seeking the public’s help to locate Melissa and bring resolution to her family as she was never found.

Melissa was last seen on Dec. 3, 1989, around 10:20 p.m. while she attended a Christmas party with her mother at the Woodside Apartment Clubhouse in Lorton; the community where she lived. When they were getting ready to leave, Melissa left the lobby area to get some potato chips in another room and never returned to her mother.

Caleb Hughes, 23, of Woodbridge, was a groundskeeper at the property who also attended the party. Detectives connected Hughes to Melissa’s disappearance and a jury convicted Hughes of abduction with the intent to defile in May, 1991. Hughes was released from prison in Aug. 2019 and is a registered sex offender.

Hughes 1990                                                                                          Hughes 2019

Our detectives are committed to pursuing all new leads and examining evidence with emerging technology. Anyone with any information on Melissa’s disappearance or who may have known or had contact with Caleb Hughes on or around the time of her disappearance is asked to contact our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 8.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by visiting http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or calling 1-866-411-TIPS. They can also be sent in via text by texting “TIP187” plus the message to CRIMES (274637). Text STOP to 274637 to cancel, or HELP to 274637 for help. Message and data rates may apply. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 dollars if their information leads to an arrest or resolution of this case.

For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.

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