After 35 years, mom gets possible break in missing son case

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News has learned of a new lead in the case of a baby boy stolen from his mother 36 years ago.

Last December, Donna Green described her 35-year search for her missing son stolen out of her former home on Moury Avenue in southeast Atlanta.

"I always tell myself that wherever he is, God is," she said.

In 1978, she gave birth to a baby boy at Grady Memorial Hospital, who she named Raymond. Six days later, she said a woman she befriended at Grady showed up at her house and kidnapped Raymond while she took a shower.

By phone Wednesday, the mother talked about what could be a big break in the case. An activist in Australia emailed her recently saying she may have located Raymond living in Germany.

"I'm definitely at the door. I don't want to turn around and go back. I need to see this all the way through, so definitely I have my hopes that it may be him," said Green.

It’s all very sudden considering Green was back in Atlanta just last week for a vigil at a local church.

Since then, Donna Green says she's spoken with the man in Germany. She wouldn't say his name yet, but says she and others have connected enough dots for him to take a DNA test.

“And if it's not him, that's just something I’ve got to deal with and I'm going to look for Raymond until I find him," she said.

After getting word of the new lead, Channel 2's Aaron Diamant contacted National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Vice President Bob Lowery.

"Anytime there's a potential sighting, I think we all get a bit excited, and we hope that this is the child," Lowery said.

Several years ago, NCMEC developed a facial composite, made from photos of family members, that may show what Raymond Green looks like today.

"It is hard not to get my hopes up," Green said. "I've been looking for Raymond for 35 years."

However, Green won't know for sure if the man in German is. In fact, Raymond until the DNA test results come back within the next several weeks.

I'm sure it's going to be agonizing waiting for the results. Anytime there's a potential this could be your child, you want to know that information as soon as possible can," Lowery said.

WSBTV