02.27 pm, Friday May 25 2012

'Kidnapped' kids found 20 years later

19:00 AEDT Fri Feb 6 2009
VIEWS: 0
| FLOCKS: 0
| comments0 comments so far
Bobby and Christi Baskin have been living under the names Jonathan and Jennifer Bunting.
Bobby and Christi Baskin have been living under the names Jonathan and Jennifer Bunting.
Mark and Debbie Baskin's children were allegedly kidnapped by Debbie's father Marvin Maples (inset).
Mark and Debbie Baskin's children were allegedly kidnapped by Debbie's father Marvin Maples (inset).

Also on
Pants downBear attacks man on toilet BreakthroughArrest in missing boy case Wedding hitGroom 'punches above his weight' Hugging dadPhotos released in custody battle confessionKelly cites Scientology bunny timeKate Upton hits the bikini beach

A brother and sister who disappeared 20 years ago have been found by police.

Bobby and Christi Baskin went missing during a custody dispute between their parents and grandparents in March 1989.

Their grandfather, Marvin Maple, has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping the children and raising them under false names over 3000km from their Tennessee home.

"She looks like a movie star and he is as handsome as it gets," San Diego's Union Tribune reported father Mark Baskin as saying after seeing photographs of the long-lost siblings, now aged 28 and 27.

"They have been totally brainwashed for 20 years, and it will take a while to erase that.

"We don't know if they will even recognize us as their parents."

The Baskins were involved in a bitter tug-of-war over the children with Marvin and his wife Sandra before their disappearance.

The Maples, the parents of Mark's wife Debbie Baskin, were granted temporary custody after telling police their grandchildren were being physically and sexually abused.

But authorities became suspicious when the Maples' claims became more bizarre — including claims of Satan worship in the family and mistreatment by social workers, attorneys and mental health officials.

On the day they were ordered to return the children, they disappeared.

Police claim Marvin changed his name to John Bunting and the children's to Jennifer and Jonathan.

His wife helped raise the kids but died about two years ago.

Marvin was brought to the attention of the authorities after being overheard discussing the kidnapping with a friend in a bar.

Christi is reportedly having the hardest time coming to grips with her family secret, after a childhood knowing her grandfather only as "daddy".

The Maskins have two other children, Michael, 25, and Paul, 16.

Mr Maple has been refused bail.

 

Most popular

 Corby worse than a terrorist: judgeThe chief justice of Indonesia's Constitutional Court has criticised the Schapelle Corby clemency decision, saying drug crimes are worse than terrorism.
 Alleged child prostitute 'feared mistress'A 12-year-old girl allegedly involved in a Sydney child prostitution ring worried about getting into trouble if she didn't provide sex, a court has heard.
 Heavy rain to hit MelbourneMelbourne is set to receive almost one month's worth of rainfall on Friday with up to 50mm of rain forecast to hit part of the city by the afternoon.
 Man says he suffocated missing NY boy

A man has told New York police he suffocated a long-missing six-year-old boy, in a possible break in a crime that helped launch a missing children's movement across the United States.

 Clinton snapped at party with porn stars

Former US president Bill Clinton has been photographed with his arms around two porn stars at a function in Monaco.

 Dying man finds support on World of WarcraftIn the game of World of Warcraft, Patrice Anseline is a level 85 Blood Elf Death Knight called Sackmagraph, of the Dath'Remar Horde’s Hydra guild.
 Groom's wedding song has audience in stitches

He admits to punching above his weight and drooling in bed but a UK groom has become an internet hit with a self-depreciating wedding song he penned for his bride.

 Queensland girls can stay until AugustThe High Court has ruled that four Queensland girls facing deportation to Italy in a custody battle will be allowed to stay in Australia until a full bench hearing in August.
 Another big rattle for ChristchurchA 5.2 earthquake has struck Christchurch but early reports suggest it has not caused any major damage or injury.
 Father in custody fight pictured with daughters

The Italian father at the centre of a bitter battle for custody of his four daughters has released photos of himself with the girls in a bid to clear his name.

Be our fan on Facebook
Most Recommended
You need the latest version of Flash Player.
Enjoy the most vivid content on the web
Watch video without extra features
Interact with applications on your favourite sites
Upgrade now

page complete