Christie and Bobby Baskin's 20 Year Kidnapping Case Closed

Mark and Debbie Baskin’s children were abducted from their hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Bobby and Christie Baskin were only seven and eight years old at the time. The kids were allegedly kidnapped by their grandfather, 72 year old Marvin Maple. The police’s arrest of Maple earlier this week in San Jose, California is what made this reunion possible.

According to the Murfreesboro Post, Maple had spent years going under the alias of John Bunting. The children had also been raised under the cover of this alias going as Jennifer and Jonathan Bunting rather than Christie and Bobby Baskin. The abductor admitted his true identity in court earlier today and is expected to be sent back to Tennessee to face kidnapping charges. According to a Rutherford County sheriff, Maple is currently held without bail.

Before kidnapping the children Maple had accused the Bunting’s of sexually abusing their children; an insinuation which eventually proved to be false. Throughout their ordeal the Baskin’s say that the Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided much support by sending out periodic documents about Bobby and Christie Baskin.

Christi Baskin is now 28 and Bobby Baskin is 27. Their parents informed reporters upon arriving in California that they were looking forward to the long hoped for reunion but NBC reports they are also wary: "I'm a little bit fearful of what they think about us, because they have been brainwashed for 20 years," said Mark Baskin.

By: Alberto Ramos Cordero