Fairfax Police Seek Tips In 1989 Disappearance Of 5-year-Old Girl

The Fairfax County Police Department is asking the public for help solving the 1989 disappearance of a little girl who was abducted from the Lortan area. Melissa Brannen, 5, vanished from Fairfax County 30 years ago, police said. Unfortunately, she has yet to be found. Detectives are eager the bring the little girl's family closure.

Police said Brannen was last seen on Dec. 3, 1989, around 10:20 p.m. while attending 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, police said Brannen 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, police said. 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.

"Our detectives are committed to pursuing all new leads and examining evidence with emerging technology," detectives said in a news release. "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.