Netty Nance, now Carlina White, shares her journey of discovering her true identity after being kidnapped as a baby and raised by her abductor.
In a story that seems ripped from the pages of a Hollywood script, Carlina White, born Nejdra Nance, was reunited with her biological family after 23 years of living under a false identity.
Her journey from a kidnapped infant to a woman rediscovering her roots is a tale of resilience, heartbreak, and ultimately, hope.
The Kidnapping
Carlina White’s life began in Harlem Hospital on July 15, 1987. Born to Joy White and Carl Tyson, she was just 19 days old when she was abducted from the hospital on Aug. 4, 1987.
A woman posing as a nurse convinced Joy and Carl to leave the hospital briefly, and when they returned, Carlina was gone. Despite an extensive search, no trace of the baby was found, and the case went cold.
Life as Netty Nance
Unbeknownst to her biological family, Carlina was raised as Netty Nance by Ann Pettway, the woman who allegedly kidnapped her.
Growing up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Netty had a tumultuous childhood. Pettway, who claimed to be her mother, was strict and distant, leaving Netty to question her identity.
In 2005, Netty gave birth to her daughter, Samani, and began to piece together the truth about her origins. After years of searching and questioning, she stumbled upon the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website in December 2010. There, she found a photo of a baby who looked strikingly like her own daughter.
The Reunion
Netty contacted the center, and after a DNA test confirmed her identity as Carlina White, she was reunited with her biological parents, Joy White and Carl Tyson, in Jan. 2011.
The emotional reunion was covered extensively by the media, but the joy was short-lived as the complexities of their new relationship began to surface.
While Joy and Carl were overjoyed to have their daughter back, Netty struggled to reconcile her new identity with the life she had known. She felt overwhelmed by the media attention and the expectations placed on her to immediately embrace her biological family.
“I feel complete,” Netty told the New York Magazine at the time, but the pressure of the situation led to tension between her and her parents.
Joy and Carl were hurt by Netty’s reluctance to fully integrate into their lives, while Netty felt misunderstood and pressured.
The Legal Battle
Ann Pettway, the woman who raised Netty, was arrested and charged with kidnapping. She surrendered to the FBI in January 2011 and faced a federal prison sentence of 20 years to life.
Netty, now Carlina, found herself torn between her loyalty to the woman who raised her and her desire for justice.
“I have unconditional feelings for her,” Carlina said of Pettway. “I’m willing to forgive her. And I still have love for her.”
Moving Forward
Today, Carlina White is rebuilding her life.
She has chosen to legally change her name back to Carlina White but continues to go by Netty, a name she feels represents her true self.
“There was a part of me that wasn’t even there, and now I feel whole,” Carlina said. “That’s the main thing—just to find out where you come from and who you are.”
They say “blood is thicker than water” and Carlina’s story demonstrates the enduring power of family and the resilience of the human spirit.
While the road ahead is not without challenges, Carlina White is determined to embrace her true identity and build a future for herself and her daughter.
