Left and Center: Melissa, circa 2006;
Right: Age-progression to age 5 (circa 2010)
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: March 16, 2006 from Los Angeles, California Classification: Family Abduction Date of Birth: April 6, 2005 Age: 11 months old Height and Weight: 2'8, 26 pounds Distinguishing Characteristics: Biracial (Caucasian/Japanese) female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Melissa has a dark-colored birthmark on her right shoulder, a small reddish birthmark on the back of her neck inside the hairline, and a dark-colored birthmark on her lower back. She may go by her middle name, Hinako, or the nickname Hina. She may use the last name Uchiyama.
Details of Disappearance
Melissa was last seen in Los Angeles, California on March 16, 2006. She was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Ryoko Uchiyama. A photograph and vital statistics for Uchiyama are posted below this case summary. A felony warrant for child custody deprivation was issued for her on on March 27, 2006, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was issued for her on May 15, 2006.Uchiyama and Melissa's father, Patrick Braden, lived together but never married. Patrick stated that when Melissa was 11 months old, Uchiyama abruptly announced she was moving back to her native Japan and taking the child with her. Patrick did not want to be separated from his daughter and went to family court to dispute the move. Uchiyama was ordered to remain within the United States and to surrender her passport. Instead she fled to Japan with Melissa.
Patrick believes his daughter and Uchiyama may be living in Japan with Uchiyama's parents, but Melissa's exact whereabouts are unknown and her case remains unsolved.
Ryoko Uchiyama
Above: Ryoko Uchiyama
Date of Birth: October 15, 1973
Age: 32 years old
Height and Weight: 5'7, 105 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Japanese female. Black hair, brown eyes. Uchiyama was born in Japan and is a Japanese citizen. She is believed to have had training as a kindergarten schoolteacher. She enjoys antique shopping. Uchiyama may use the last name Lin or the first name Ayoko. She has a scar on her abdomen.
Investigating Agency
Source Information
Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004.
Last updated April 4, 2013; age-progression updated.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
213-974-3607
OR
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Los Angeles, California Office
310-477-6565
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The Polly Klaas Foundation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Children's Rights Network Japan