The kidnapping of Kamiyah Mobley is a story that includes years of investigation and complicated emotions. Mobley was stolen on July 10, 1998, from University Medical Center, now UF Health Jacksonville, when she was just 8 hours old. Gloria Williams, disguised as a hospital nurse, took the baby from her biological mother, Shanara Mobley. The newborn was taken from Florida to South Carolina, where she spent her childhood under the name Alexis Manigo without any suspicion that she was kidnapped.
Fast forward to Jan. 13, 2017, when Jacksonville police followed anonymous tips that led them to Mobley, who was living with Williams in South Carolina. DNA testing confirmed that she was the baby who had gone missing more than 18 years prior. Williams was arrested, and Mobley was reunited with her biological parents, Shanara Mobley and Craig Aiken. Williams was eventually sentenced to 18 years in prison following an emotional court battle.
Since being found, Mobley’s life has been filled with complicated family dynamics. She has had the opportunity to get to know her biological family in Florida, but also maintains strong ties with the family she grew up with in South Carolina. This has strained her relationship with her biological mother, who expressed feelings of loss and confusion.
There have been several accounts shared about Mobley’s story, including a 2020 documentary called “The Kamiyah Mobley Story with Robin Roberts” and a Lifetime movie titled “Stolen By My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story.” The film starred Niecy Nash as Gloria Williams, Rayven Symone Ferrell as Kamiyah Mobley, and Ta’Rhonda Jones as Shanara Mobley.
Mobley has expressed her efforts to keep her two families separate but spends time with both. She goes by Alexis when in South Carolina and Kamiyah in Florida, leaving it up to the person she is interacting with to decide which name to use.
The story of Kamiyah Mobley is one of resilience, forgiveness, and the complexities of family relationships. Despite the circumstances of her kidnapping, she has managed to navigate between two families, each with its own set of challenges and emotions. Through documentaries and movies, her story continues to captivate audiences and shed light on the enduring impact of a life-altering event.
