Trenton mother still searching for lost daughter almost 40 years after disappearance

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is asking for the public’s help in finding Melissa McGuinn, who was only 7 months old when she went missing on March 6, 1988.

Amanda Lee

Mar 7, 2025, 6:40 PM

Updated 4 days ago

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A 7-month-old went missing in Trenton nearly 40 years ago, but her mother is still keeping hope alive as police use new technology to continue their search.
Melissa McGuinn was last seen on Lamberton Street in Trenton on March 6, 1988.
Melissa's mother, Becky House, now lives in Arkansas. She only remembers her daughter as she was at 7 months old before she was reportedly kidnapped. "And just that smile, it would just light up the whole room," said House.
Baby Melissa was allegedly taken from their home in Trenton by a woman with special needs who lived with the family.
"I know in my heart that she was the one that walked out the door with her," said House.
Back then, police searched the surrounding area and Delaware Diver but found nothing.
On this year's anniversary of Melissa's disappearance, Trenton police shared an age progression photo of what she would look like today.
"That's the only way that she's going to know that she was taken. That's the only way that anybody is going to recognize her," House told News 12.
Police have Melissa's DNA, which was rare to keep in the '80s. So, the family is hoping to match it with one of several women who are unsure of their true identities. They say recently they've been getting closer to finding a match.