WORST NIGHTMARE
Chilling clue which snared evil ‘Baby Abbie’ snatcher who posed as nurse to steal three-hour-old from her mother’s arms
Abbie only discovered her abduction story during a house move
A CHILLING clue snared the evil 'Baby Abbie' snatcher who posed as a nurse to steal the three-hour-old from her mother's arms.
Abbie Humphries, who died aged 30 on Sunday after suffering with a brain tumour, was abducted from the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, in July 1994.
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Julie Kelley, who was pregnant with daughter Hollie, kept the tot for 16 days before police found her.
She even tricked boyfriend Leigh Gilbert into thinking Abbie was his child.
Abbie was reunited with parents Karen and Roger thanks to sharp-eyed Glenis Smith.
She spotted children's clothes on the line of a neighbouring semi in Wollaton where kidnapper Kelley had taken Abbie.
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Cops received the tip off that the former dental nurse had arrived home with a baby girl.
Neighbours had known she was pregnant, but expecting a boy, and became suspicious.
Five months later Kelley was sentenced to three years' probation on condition she became an in-patient at a psychiatric clinic.
Leigh split from Kelley soon after her arrest.
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It comes after her husband Karl Sundgren paid tribute to his "beautiful" wife on Facebook.
He wrote: "Our beautiful Abbie peacefully passed away yesterday, surrounded by loved ones.
"She fought so hard with so much strength and grace for over 4 years and can finally rest.
"Abbie was so strong, and her infectious smile will forever remain in our hearts."
The drama 'The Secrets She Keeps' aired in 2020 and drew inspiration from Abbie's abduction.
It was only aged 26 that Abbie grasped the full gravity of her own ordeal.
Is The Secrets She Keeps based on a true story?
The Secrets She Keeps is based on a book of the same name, which is inspired by one of the most well-known kidnappings of Abbie Humphries.
In 1994, Abbie was born in Nottingham at Queen's Medical Centre.
Julie Kelley was the kidnapper in the real-life version of events.
Just three hours after being born, Julie approached Abbie's dad, Roger Humphries, telling him Abbie needed a hearing test.
Julie, who was 22 at the time and a former dental nurse, was dressed in a nurse's uniform so Roger did not suspect anything was wrong.
However, Abbie wasn't returned for 16 days.
She was found in Nottingham at Julie's boyfriend's home and it was discovered that Julie took Abbie after faking her own pregnancy to try and fix her failing relationship.
Julie was treated for a personality disorder and was put on probation for three years.
when the first series came out, Abbie said she loved watching the TV adaptation but acknowledged the pain it causes those close to her.
"As I am sure you can imagine, this does bring up a lot of emotions for my family," she said.
Abbie has said in the past that her parents were open with her at a young age about what had happened.
She discovered her abduction story during a house move including a message from Princess Diana.
Her family, which moved to New Zealand, has been since been haunted by tragedy.
Her mum Karen died of breast cancer in 2020 before Abbie's own diagnosis the following year.
Abbie previously said: "We have just had a terrible amount of bad luck.
"I usually choose to look at the positive side of everything. It makes everyone feel better."
Abbie excelled as swimmer and worked as a flight attendant and in IT before marrying her teenage sweetheart Karl.
Abbie had no idea she'd been kidnapped until she was aged 10.
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She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2021 and given months to live.
Abbie survived for another four.
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