A woman was led down the aisle at her wedding by “two fathers” — her birth father and the husband of the woman who kidnapped her at birth.
Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, of Cape Town, was snatched by Lavona Solomon – who is nearing the end of a 10-year sentence for the crime.
She was arrested after a DNA test in 2015 revealed that she and her husband, Michael, were not Miche’s biological parents.
But Miche, formerly known as “Madeleine McCann from South Africa,” grew to love the family that raised her — and wanted them to celebrate her marriage with her birth parents.
She asked both Michael and her birth father, Morne Nurse, to walk her down the aisle.
Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, of Cape Town, was walked down the aisle at her wedding by “two dads” — her biological father and the husband of the woman who abducted her at birth (pictured groom Justin and bride Miche with their biological parents)
Miche, a financial bookkeeper, said, “Michael had been my father all my life—he was the father of me. I’m so glad Morne opened his heart to walk down the aisle next to him.
‘It was such a beautiful day. We saw the union of my two families.
‘
Miche – who was originally named Zephany Nurse – was born on April 27, 1997 and was taken from her bed three days later at Groote Schur Hospital, Cape Town.
She was raised by Lavona and Michael for 19 years, unaware that she was the biological daughter of another family.
But when a new girl, Cassidy, came to Miche’s school in 2015, she realized that the pair looked exactly alike.
This prompted social workers at Miche’s school to ask her to do a DNA test.
And she found out that the couple weren’t her real parents, and Cassidy was in fact her biological sister.
Lavona was arrested soon after and given a 10-year sentence for Miche’s kidnapping.
Michael, Lavona Solomon’s husband who snatched Miche as a baby, pictured with Miche as a teenager
Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, of Cape Town, was walked down the aisle at her wedding by “two dads” — her biological father and the husband of the woman who abducted her at birth (pictured groom Justin and bride Miche with their biological families)
Miche grew to love the family that raised her – and wanted them to celebrate her marriage with her birth parents
Miche – who was originally named Zephany Nurse – was born on April 27, 1997 and was taken from her bed three days later at Groote Schur Hospital, Cape Town.
The couple married on March 21, 2023 – and both Michael and Morne walked Miche down the aisle
She will be released from Worcester Female Prison on August 18 this year.
Miche was introduced to her biological parents on February 25, 2015 at the age of 17, but did not immediately feel a connection with them.
“It was extremely difficult, because you grew up thinking this is your family,” she said. ‘Meeting my birth parents… that connection wasn’t there.
“I was looking for it – but it just wasn’t there in the beginning. I had been raised by Lavona and Michael all my life.
“Both families were so hard on each other too. I really had to get used to having two different fathers in my life.
“But I knew I’d want them both to walk me down the aisle when I got married.
“
Lavona was suffering from fertility problems around the time Miche was born.
She had had a late miscarriage – and got Miche out of her crib in the maternity ward, dressed as a nurse.
Miche has lost contact with the woman who raised her – but she doesn’t see her as a criminal.
She said, “I don’t see the mother who raised me as criminal and evil. Everyone was injured in the process. We all just had to heal.”
Cassidy (left) attended Miche’s (right) school in 2015, realizing that the pair looked exactly alike. This prompted social workers at Miche’s school to ask her to do a DNA test
She was raised by Lavona and Michael for 19 years, not knowing she was the biological daughter of another family
Miche met teacher Justin Sheldon, 32, at church in 2012. She has two children from a previous relationship: Sophia, six, and Matteo, four
Miche met teacher Justin Sheldon, 32, at church in 2012. She has two children from a previous relationship: Sophia, six, and Matteo, four.
Two years after they met, in 2021, Miche told Justin about her past.
He was “shocked but empathetic” – and has been consistently supportive of Miche, Sophia and Matteo ever since.
They got married on March 21, 2023 – and both Michael and Morne walked Miche down the aisle.
She said, “My biological father wasn’t very happy at first. But this day was all about me and my relationship with my husband.
But in the end he said yes for me. It was a miracle!
“The relationship between my two families is improving. They get along well now – we’ve all grown up, realized we’re human, and are finally coming to terms with what happened.
“We show mutual respect for each other and we are all very understanding.”