Woman, 28, in Indiana claims she has DNA to prove she's a 7-year-old who went missing in 2000

Publish date: 2024-08-25
Kaylynn Stevenson, who was adopted, said a DNA test proved her true identity to be Brittney Renee Williams, who was last seen at her Henrico foster home August 18, 2000

Kaylynn Stevenson, who was adopted, said a DNA test proved her true identity to be Brittney Renee Williams, who was last seen at her Henrico foster home August 18, 2000 

A 28-year-old Indiana woman has made an extraordinary claim that she's a seven-year-old foster child who vanished in Virginia – and was presumed dead – more than two decades ago.

Kaylynn Stevenson, who was adopted, said a DNA test proved her true identity to be Brittney Renee Williams, who was last seen at her Henrico foster home August 18, 2000.

Brittney was believed to be infected with HIV from her biological mother, and was presumed dead after she disappeared because she did not have the medication necessary to keep her alive.  

Stevenson told NBC 12 that she does not have HIV and she believes Brittney received a false diagnosis. The chance of a mother infecting her child in utero is between 20 and 25 percent, according to NIH research.

A DNA test with Brittney's biological sister revealed that there was a 95.83 percent chance they were siblings, NBC reported.

The DailyMail.com reached out to Stevenson for comment, but has not yet received a response.   

Brittney was believed to be infected with HIV from her biological mother, and was presumed dead after she disappeared because she did not have the medication necessary to keep her alive Police in Henrico, Virginia, said they're actively investigating the claim alongside the FBA

Brittney was believed to be infected with HIV from her biological mother, and was presumed dead after she disappeared because she did not have the medication necessary to keep her alive

Stevenson, 28, said she believes she's a girl who's been missing since August 2000

Stevenson, 28, said she believes she's a girl who's been missing since August 2000

Stevenson, who grew up in an adoptive home, steadfastly believes that she is living proof the girl who was once subject of a national search is alive and well. 

She said she made the connection while searching for her biological family online, she told NBC.

She said she had a hunch she was a missing child, and that her legitimate surname was Williams.

She used the few clues she had to run a search.

'Literally, in the Google search, Brittney Renee Williams' photo popped up,' Stevenson told the outlet.

'I woke my wife up out of her sleep and was like, 'Yo. This is me. I know me when I see me. This is me.' 

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Brittney's biological mother, who is now dead, had an older daughter, Anastasia McElroy, who Stevenson connected with.

McElroy said she started bawling when she learned about Stevenson.

'The emotions were so powerful that it kind of took over my emotional spiritual being,' she told NBC.  

The little girl was described in a missing person's flyer as having a medical scar on her chest

The little girl was described in a missing person's flyer as having a medical scar on her chest

Brittney Renee Williams, 7, disappeared from her Henrico foster home and was presumed dead

Brittney Renee Williams, 7, disappeared from her Henrico foster home and was presumed dead

'I am going by Brittney now,' Steven told the outlet. 'I don't want ties to my adopted name. That name is not me.'

Brittney also had a scar on the left side of her chest that was left by a medical tube

Brittney also had a scar on the left side of her chest that was left by a medical tube

Stevenson said she remembers few details about her childhood, including that she stayed in a pastel pink bedroom and had a feeding tube.

During the televised interview, she lifted her top to reveal scars on her stomach, and other scars from the medical procedures she underwent during childhood.

One prominent scar was visible on the left side of her stomach.

Police previously said Brittney had a scar in her upper left chest where a medical port was once inserted.

Henrico police said they're investigating the claim alongside the FBI.

Anastasia McElroy, Brittney's biological sister, said she started bawling after learning of Stevenson. She said the news 'took over my entire spiritual being'

Anastasia McElroy, Brittney's biological sister, said she started bawling after learning of Stevenson. She said the news 'took over my entire spiritual being'

Stevenson and McElroy requested a DNA test, which they said indicated that there was a 95.83 percent chance that they're biological siblings

Stevenson and McElroy requested a DNA test, which they said indicated that there was a 95.83 percent chance that they're biological siblings

Lt. Matthew Pecka said the case went cold, but was never closed.

'This remains an active investigation and we are working with our federal partners,' he told DailyMail.com.

'As soon as we get additional details, we'll be able to provide [an] update.'

He did not say whether police would conduct their own DNA test.

A missing person's flyer said Brittney had chicken pox and was in need of medical attention

A missing person's flyer said Brittney had chicken pox and was in need of medical attention

Brittney disappeared while she was living under the legal guardianship of Kim E. Parker.

Parker admitted in 2013 to continuing to cash the missing girl's disability checks after she vanished, The Associated Press reported.

She pleaded guilty to security fraud for stealing $16,000 that was intended for the child.

'While masquerading as a good Samaritan, you were using the victim to perpetrate a fraud on society,' federal Judge Richard L. Williams said during sentencing.

If Stevenson's claims are true, it's not clear how Brittney ended up in an adoptive home.

NBC, which has been closely following the case, reported that Parker claimed she gave the child away to a California couple.

Police disputed those claims, the outlet reported.

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