Abducted: The Carlina White Story

Plot synopsis

In August 1987, new parents Joy White (Shepherd) and Carl Tyson (Cross) took their 19-day-old daughter Carlina to Harlem Hospital in New York City with a high fever. Ann Pettway (Ellis), who had suffered a series of miscarriages and was desperate for a baby, posed as a hospital nurse and walked out of the hospital with Carlina hidden from view. While Joy and Carl desperately searched for their daughter over the years, Pettway was raising Carlina (Palmer) as Nejdra "Netty" Nance in Bridgeport, Connecticut, a mere 45 miles from New York City. As Carlina grew older, she began to suspect Pettway was not her birth mother and launched her own investigation. After contacting the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Carlina was reunited with her biological parents in January 2011.

Cast

Critical reception

Sandy Hoffman of AIDY Reviews said the film was an emotionless wreck that didn't do the story justice. Laura Fries of Variety said the film felt a little incomplete.

Ratings

Abducted: The Carlina White Story earned 4.09 million viewers in its first airing on October 6, 2012, on Lifetime.

Awards

Abducted: The Carlina White Story was nominated in 4 categories at the 44th Annual NAACP Image Awards, with Elizabeth Hunter winning for Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television). The film also received four nominations at the Black Reel Awards of 2013, with Vondie Curtis-Hall winning Best Director (Network/Cable Television), Elizabeth Hunter winning Best Screenplay (Network/Cable Television), and Aunjanue Ellis winning the Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance (Female) over her nominated co-star, Keke Palmer.