Zephany nurse. Mother reunited with stolen daughter 17 years after she was snatched 2019-12-13

'It gets confusing': Zephany dedicates new book to her two mothers

Each year, he, Celeste and Zephany's siblings held a big birthday party for her to keep her story alive in the South African media, never losing hope that she was still alive. Half of Morne's life has been spent searching for his missing child. She brought me so much joy. On another occasion, this same mother found her holding her baby, and when questioned the woman replied that the baby had been crying and she was comforting it. . No further details are available about the book or the documentary. In at least two instances the Nurse family were given hope that their daughter would be returned home.

Zephany Nurse kidnapper jailed for 10 years in South Africa

The results were conclusive that Zephany was in fact the Nurses' child, and she was removed to a place of safety by the. Nurse was reunited with her biological parents, Morne and Celeste Nurse, 17 years later after tests confirmed her identity. One girl was 17, the other was 13. The kidnapper said someone named Sylvia tricked her into believing it was a legal adoption and was handed the baby at a train station. The community has been divided by the extraordinary turn of events in South Africa's most famous missing person's case, and the atmosphere in the packed public gallery during the trial was fraught. For 17 years Celeste held on to hope that her daughter would be found, several leads ended up in more heartache for her and her husband Morne.

Zephany Nurse Was Kidnapped As A Baby And Ended Up In The Same Class As Her Biological Sister

She hasn't suffered the way she has made us suffer. What does appear to be true is that the kidnapper suffered from a series of miscarriages and desperately wanted to have a baby. Evidence found at the scene indicated that the woman had repeatedly entered the maternity wards of the hospital and made several attempts to abduct an infant before making off with Zephany. According to some reports in local media, she has opted to move back to the home where she grew up and has not formed a bond with her biological family. He watched in disbelief as Zephany arrived, and contacted the investigating officers shortly after. A pillow was discovered in a tunnel that gave women in labour direct access to the ward from the street.

Zephany Nurse Was Kidnapped As A Baby And Ended Up In The Same Class As Her Biological Sister

The Nurse family lived just over a mile from their daughter, celebrating her birthday every year and of finding her. In May, a woman who was given a five-year suspended sentence. Since then Zephany has also had a child of her own, and says she will always consider the woman who took her as her mother. . The baby was nowhere to be found. At the time, police believed someone pretending to be pregnant had stolen Zephany.

Zephany Nurse turns life story into a book and documentary

A witness identified her at an identity parade almost two decades after the incident. The parents never gave up hope, even after having a second daughter four years later. There are frequent reports of such cases and other crimes involving trafficking of infants and children in South African media. The pillow was probably used to fake a pregnancy, as no one questions a pregnant woman moving around in a. Fast forward to 2015 when the miracle occurred. But then she felt torn, she was guilty to be spending time with us, she was obviously under huge pressure from the other side. They too were struck by the physical similarities, and contacted the authorities.

Zephany Nurse

When she awoke, the baby was gone. The woman, now dressed as a nurse in maroon pants and oatmeal top, made an effort to befriend the mothers in the ward. Today was a good result, but it is not the end of the journey, we still have so much more to face. One of the expectant mothers, who remembered the kidnapper's face, had spoken to her briefly. Morne met the girl, who told him her birthday was the same day as Zephany and he went to the police with his suspicions.

Zephany Nurse's family say kidnapped girl has rejected them after their reunion

The tunnel also provided access to the old main building, department and section, which at the time had unrestricted access. After this first meeting, Morne contacted the investigating officer in the disappearance of Zephany. Zephany said she felt distraught that her kidnapper and adoptive mother was arrested and charged with a serious crime. She awoke to find an empty crib and no sign of her child. That was the same day that their three-day-old daughter, Zephany Nurse, was kidnapped. She claimed she had not been at Groote Schuur hospital on the day Zephany Nurse was kidnapped, and said she had been tricked when she was handed the baby at a busy railway station by a woman called Sylvia, who had been giving her fertility treatment after she had had multiple miscarriages. This story of a fated reunion goes back to when Celeste gave birth at age 18.

Zephany Nurse turns life story into a book and documentary

Whether it is true or not is not for you to toy with. So 'desperate' to catch sight of Zephany and exchange a word, Morne has turned up at the property on a number of occasions. They divorced some time ago, but remain 'on good terms', he added, and both have new partners. Her kidnapper, a 52-year-old seamstress who has not been named, raised the child as her own. The Zephany Nurse story is guaranteed to be a page-turner. Back to the beginning, and the nightmare starting all over again. This explained her apparent lack of remorse, Steyn said.

Zephany Nurse kidnapper jailed for 10 years in South Africa

She denied she had dressed as a nurse to get onto the maternity ward at the Groote Schurr hospital where Zephany was snatched in April 1997, despite being identified by eye witnesses following her arrest. Miché is a reminder of who she was; Zephany is who she might have been. Celeste sobbed and cried the day she found out Zephany was alive and with her again. It was like a knife was being pushed even further into my heart. I see the curtain twitching, so I know someone is there.