The BBC reports that the mystery surrounding the fate of

Melissa Highsmith

began in August 1971, when her mother hired a babysitter by placing a notice in a newspaper in the city of Fort Worth in the American state of Texas.

The nanny disappeared with the child, starting a decade-long search for Melissa by family, police and federal authorities.

The breakthrough in the case came Nov. 6 when a DNA test on the website 23AndMe linked Melissa Highsmith's children to her biological parents.

Melissa Highsmith and her parents met for the first time on November 26.

Although the statute of limitations for the abduction has long passed, Fort Worth police said they will continue to investigate Melissa's disappearance 51 years ago to find out what happened.