On July 10th, 1998, Shanara Mobley from Florida gave birth to a baby girl. As a teen mother, she knew raising a child on her own would be difficult, but she was ready for any challenges.
But nothing could've prepared her for what was about to happen a few hours after giving birth.
She Was Exhausted
Shanara was exhausted after giving birth to her daughter Kamiyah. So, when she noticed a nurse entering her room, she didn't pay much attention to her.
All she could remember about the nurse was that she had a strange wig and thick glasses.
She Talked To The Nurse
Shanara remembers sharing her feelings and thoughts about her uncertain future with the nurse.
The nurse listened to her and even gave her some helpful advice on how to raise her daughter. But then, she told Shanara something she would never forget.
She Took Her Daughter
The nurse told her she was taking her daughter to the doctor's office for an examination, as she looked ill. And this was the last time Shanara saw her child.
So, what happened to Kamiyah?
She Contacted The Police
Shanara was heartbroken. She couldn't understand how the nurse could be so cruel and selfish.
She contacted the police and informed them of her daughter's disappearance. And soon, her story went viral.
She Heard About Her Story On TV
The luck wasn't on her side for many years until one girl heard about Shanara's story on TV.
Alexis Manigo grew up with two brothers and couldn't imagine how she would feel if one of them suddenly went missing. When she told her mother about Shanara's story, she began to panic. What was going on?
The Dark Secret
Gloria felt like it was time to tell her daughter the truth. So she sat her down on the front porch and told her about everything.
At first, Alexis thought her mother was joking. How could Shanara be her mother? Then, Gloria told her something she would never forget.
She Was Kidnapped
Gloria told Alexis that she had kidnapped her when she was only a few hours old. Alexis was at a loss for words. How could she trust her "mother" again?
Worst of all, everyone knew about this case, including Alexis. But what Gloria revealed next was even more shocking.
Her Name Wasn't Alexis
Not only her entire life was a lie, but her real name wasn't Alexis Manigo either. It was Kamiyah.
But what prompted Gloria to steal a newborn when she already had two sons of her own?
Back in 1998
In 1998, Gloria was going through a rough patch in her life. After finally leaving her abusive partner, she started a new life.
In desperation, she kidnapped Kamiyah and raised her as her own daughter. So, how did Alexis react to the news?
Her Life Was A Lie
Everything about her life was basically a lie: her family, home, and even her name.
To Gloria's surprise, Alexis wasn't mad at her. Gloria was a wonderful mother to her and her siblings. Although Alexis wasn't happy with her decision, she didn't want to hold any grudges against her.
The Police Sh0wed Up
Alexis shared her story with a few close friends and asked them to keep it a secret. However, just a few days later, police showed up at Gloria's house.
Alexis begged her mother to hide or lie, but Gloria wanted to come clean about what she had done.
Getting In Touch With Shanara
The authorities contacted Shanara and told her about Alexis and what had happened to her on that fateful day. She was thrilled to hear her daughter was alive and doing well.
However, she soon found out that Alexis and Gloria shared a special bond, and there was no place for her in their lives.
Stuck Between Two Worlds
Alexis was attached to Gloria and didn't want to leave her side, even after learning that she was her kidnapper.
During Gloria's trial, Alexis felt like she was stuck between two different worlds. There was one world she knew nothing about - her birth mother. And there was another world that she knew pretty well -Gloria. So, what did she decide to do?
She Was Sentenced To 18 Years In Prison
Gloria was sentenced to 18 years in prison. However, Shanara didn't agree with the jury's decision.
She believes Gloria deserves a much longer sentence for what she had done to her daughter. But, she will always hold a special place in Alexis's heart, no matter what. "She made a mistake, but I was loved...Gloria is a big part of my heart.", she said.