For two decades, Lee Barnett lived a life on the run, always looking over her shoulder, constantly shifting from one country to another in an attempt to stay ahead of the authorities. From bustling cities to remote hideaways, she changed identities, adapted to new cultures, and kept moving, all in the desperate hope of avoiding capture. But no matter how far she fled, the fear of being found never left her.

Barnett’s journey as a fugitive began in 1994, when she took her young daughter and disappeared, defying a court order that had granted custody to the child’s father. With the FBI in pursuit, she crafted a new life overseas, first settling in Europe before making her way to far-flung destinations like Australia and South Africa. For years, she managed to evade one of the most powerful law enforcement agencies in the world, but time was not on her side.

Eventually, her past caught up with her. In a carefully coordinated operation, authorities tracked Barnett down, bringing her decades-long flight to an end. She was arrested and extradited to the United States, where she faced the consequences of her actions.

Despite her claims that she had been acting in the best interest of her child, the law was unyielding. Found guilty of kidnapping, she was sentenced to serve time in prison, marking the conclusion of a story that had gripped the public for years.

This extraordinary case, filled with twists and turns, originally aired on March 25, 2018, shedding light on one mother’s desperate attempt to escape justice—and the relentless pursuit that finally brought her back.