A woman was walked down the aisle at her wedding by ‘two dads’ – her biological dad and the husband of the woman who kidnapped her at birth.
Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, from Cape Town, was snatched by Lavona Solomon – who is coming to the end of a 10-year prison sentence for the crime.
She was arrested after a DNA test in 2015 revealed she and her husband, Michael, were not Miche’s biological parents.
But Miche, previously dubbed ‘South Africa’s Madeleine McCann’, grew to love the family who raised her – and wanted them to celebrate her wedding alongside her birth parents.
She asked both Michael and her biological dad, Morne Nurse, to walk her down the aisle.
Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, from Cape Town, was walked down the aisle at her wedding by ‘two dads’ – her biological dad and the husband of the woman who kidnapped her at birth (Pictured groom Justin and bride Miche with their biological parents)
Miche, a financial bookkeeper said: ‘Michael had been my dad my whole life – he fathered me. I’m so glad Morne opened his heart to walk alongside him down the aisle.
‘It was such a beautiful day. We saw the unionship of my two families.’
Miche – who was originally named Zephany Nurse – was born on April 27, 1997, and taken from her cot in Groote Schur Hospital, Cape Town, three days later.
She was raised for 19 years by Lavona and Michael, with no idea she was the biological daughter of another family.
But a new girl, Cassidy, joined Miche’s school in 2015, she realised 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 the pair weren’t her real parents, and Cassidy was in fact her biological sister.
Lavona was arrested shortly afterwards and received a 10 year sentence for kidnapping Miche.
Michael, who is the husband of Lavona Solomon who snatched Miche as a baby, pictured with Miche as a teenager
Miche Zephany Sheldon, 26, from Cape Town, was walked down the aisle at her wedding by ‘two dads’ – her biological dad and the husband of the woman who kidnapped her at birth (Pictured groom Justin and bride Miche with their biological families)
Miche grew to love the family who raised her – and wanted them to celebrate her wedding alongside her birth parents
Miche – who was originally named Zephany Nurse – was born on April 27, 1997, and taken from her cot in Groote Schur Hospital, Cape Town, three days later
The couple got married on March 21, 2023 – and both Michael and Morne walked Miche down the aisle
She’s due to be released from Worcester Female Prison on August 18 this year.
Miche was introduced to her birth parents on February 25, 2015, aged 17 – but didn’t feel an instant connection to them.
‘It was extremely difficult, because you’ve grown up thinking this is your family,’ she said. ‘Meeting my biological parents… there wasn’t that connection.
‘I was looking for it – but it just wasn’t there in the beginning. I’d been raised by Lavona and Michael my whole life.
‘Both families were just so harsh with each other, as well. I really had to adjust to having two different dads in my life.
‘But I knew I’d want them both walking me down the aisle whenever I got married.’
Lavona had been suffering from fertility issues around the time Miche was born.
She’d suffered a late miscarriage – and took Miche from her crib in the maternity ward, while dressed as a nurse.
Miche no longer has any contact with the woman who raised her – but she doesn’t see her as a criminal.
She said: ‘I don’t see the mum who raised me as criminal and evil. Everyone just got hurt in the process. We all just needed to heal.’
Cassidy (left) joined Miche’s (right) school in 2015, she realised the pair looked exactly alike. This prompted social workers at Miche’s school to ask her to do a DNA test
She was raised for 19 years by Lavona and Michael, with no idea 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 into knowing each other, in 2021, Miche told Justin about her past.
He was ‘shocked but empathetic’ – and has provided Miche, Sophia and Matteo with constant support ever since.
They got married on March 21, 2023 – and both Michael and Morne walked Miche down the aisle.
She said: ‘My biological dad wasn’t too happy at first. But this day was all about me and my relationship with my husband.
‘But eventually, he said yes for me. It was a miracle!
‘The relationship between my two families is improving. They do get along now – we’ve all matured, realised we’re human and are finally coming to terms with what happened.
‘We show mutual respect to one another, and we’re all very understanding.’
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