Missing
Emmanuel Kalief Birts
Emmanuel, approximately 1989; Age when reported missing: 26 (approximately 2015)
Date and time person was reported missing : 09/14/1989
Missing location (approx) :
Dallas, Texas
Missing classification : Non-Family Abduction
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
Black
DOB : 08/04/1989 (32)
Age at the time of disappearance: 5 weeks old
Height / Weight : 2'0, 10 pounds
Description, clothing, jewerly and more : A red, white and blue checkered shirt, light blue shorts with red trim and red and white socks.
Medical conditions : Emmanuel was being treated for an eye infection at the time of his abduction.
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: African-American male. Black hair, brown eyes.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Emmanuel was born at his grandmother's Dallas, Texas home, but spent seven days at Parkland Memorial Hospital after birth. He was released from the hospital on August 11, 1989 and went to live with with his grandmother, Hermane Grady, and mother, Kisha Birts, in the 2900 block of east Ledbetter Drive.
His abductor, who claimed to be a social worker and called herself Debra Manning, first visited the home on August 12, saying she was making a follow-up home visit from the hospital. She told them Emmanuel had an eye infection, which was in fact true.
Manning visited the family again on September 12, and claimed there was a possibility Emmanuel was infected with the HIV virus. Because Kisha had used drugs during her pregnancy, this was plausible. On the evening of September 13, Manning visited again, with a letter she claimed was from the Child Welfare Department.
The letter said Emmanuel needed to go to the hospital and get tested for HIV. Manning said she needed to take the baby immediately, and Kisha wanted to come with them, but Manning made an excuse as to why she couldn't, and said she'd come pick up Emmanuel for the test the next morning.
On the morning of September 14, Kisha went to Parkland Memorial Hospital to ask about her baby's health. She left Emmanuel home with Grady. When Manning first arrived, she claimed she had to get a car seat for the baby and would be back in an hour. She did return and Grady let her take Emmanuel with her at 10:00 a.m.
Manning didn't take Emmanuel's eye medication with her. She promised to return by 2:00 p.m., but she never came back. Neither of them have ever been seen again. The family reported Emmanuel missing at 8:00 p.m.
The abductor is described as African-American, in her thirties, 5'6 tall and 145 pounds. Her hair appeared to be sandy brown, although it may have been a wig. She wore heavy blue eyeshadow and spoke with a foreign accent, possibly of African origin. She claimed to own a van, although none of Emmanuel's family members saw any vehicle.
The name Debra Manning was almost certainly an alias, although Grady actually did know a welfare worker by that name. Child Protective Services hadn't authorized Emmanuel's removal from his home for any reason. The abductor always wore a white lab coat and surgical pants; real social workers wear street clothes.
Investigators believe the abductor may have a history as a con artist, given the nature of Emmanuel's abduction. She apparently also had access to the baby's medical information.
Both of Emmanuel's parents subsequently tested negative for HIV, meaning Emmanuel could not have had the virus. His parents also took polygraph exams and neither of them are considered suspects in the child's abduction.
The woman who called herself Debra Manning has never been identified and there's been no sign of either her or Emmanuel since the day she took him away in 1989. His case remains unsolved.
Other information and links : ncy
Dallas Police Department
214-744-4444
September 2021 updates and sources
The Dallas Morning News
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are not known. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2�5% of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
Several organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and imAge at the time of disappearance: s of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
October 12, 2004. September 2, 2016; Age at the time of disappearance: -progression added.
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
