Tennessee kidnapping case blown wide open during routine traffic stop

Samson, Alabama - Daphne Westbrook disappeared on October 6, 2019, and her sudden reappearance is proving more of a mystery than her kidnapping.

Daphne Westbrook in a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation mug shot.
Daphne Westbrook in a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation mug shot.  © Twitter/Screenshot/TBInvestigation

Daphne Westbrook was 17 when she failed to return home from a weekend trip to her father's house in October 2019. Daphne's mother waited at home in Chattanooga, Tennessee in vain for her beloved daughter that evening.

The teen seemingly vanished without a trace. Evidence soon began to mount that indicated her father John Westbrook (42) may have first abducted her and then continuously drugged her.

Fox13 Tampa Bay reported that Daphne Westbrook had contacted a friend completely out of nowhere, pleading for help in a message that indicated she wanted to harm herself out of despair.

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Investigators raided the house of John Westbrook's sister after finding communication between the two, but were still unable to track down the missing girl. In their notice to cooperating agencies John Westbrook was flagged as "an expert in disguise" who is very talented at shielding phones and using only cryptocurrency to avoid detection.

The case suddenly broke wide open on Friday at 1:30 AM, when a police officer pulled a car over in Samson, Alabama for a faulty light. As the Daily Star reports, the officer was initially unaware that the driver who rolled down the window for him was Daphne Westbrook.

Many questions remain unanswered

Daphne did not want to be put in touch with her mother

What John Westbrook once had to do with the case no longer seems to matter.
What John Westbrook once had to do with the case no longer seems to matter.  © Twitter/Screenshots/TBInvestigation

As the officer ran the woman's information through the police database, he was caught completely off guard when he realized who he had actually pulled over.

In a statement, the Samson Police Department announced that Daphne Westbrook was now classified as "not endangered" after the chance encounter.

Police also reported that the now 18-year-old did not need help in any way.

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Because Daphne is now of legal age, she was allowed to continue her road trip. "She seemed fine. She said she was going to the beach to enjoy herself," the chief said, according to AL.com. "She said she had just turned 18 and was free."

The New York Post reports that Daphne had a falling out with her mom about dropping out of school prior to going missing, and said she did not wish to be put in contact with her mother.

Police are still searching for John Westbrook.

Cover photo: Twitter/Screenshots/TBInvestigation

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