- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Former 'Baby Jessica' Arrested at 40 After Domestic Disturbance
Jessica McClure Morales, rescued from a well as a toddler in 1987, was charged with assault causing bodily injury.
Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:40pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The arrest of 'Baby Jessica' at 40 exposes the unseen struggles of those who endure childhood trauma.Midland TodayJessica McClure Morales, once known as 'Baby Jessica' after being rescued from a well as a toddler in 1987, was arrested on Saturday and charged with assault causing bodily injury following a reported domestic disturbance at her home in Midland, Texas. Morales, now 40 years old, was taken into custody by the Midland County Sheriff's Office and later released on bond.
Why it matters
The arrest of Jessica McClure Morales, who gained international fame as a toddler when she was rescued from a well in 1987, is a surprising turn of events for someone who was once the focus of a high-profile rescue operation that captivated the nation. The details surrounding the domestic disturbance charge raise questions about Morales' life since the well incident and the long-term impacts of her early childhood trauma.
The details
According to arrest records, deputies with the Midland County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence just before 10:00 p.m. on Saturday regarding a reported domestic disturbance. Morales was taken into custody and charged with assault causing bodily injury. She was later released from the Midland County Detention Center after posting bond. Authorities have not released many details about the incident, but a request for the arrest affidavit is expected to provide more information about what led to the charge.
- On April 12, 2026, Jessica McClure Morales, now 40 years old, was arrested by the Midland County Sheriff's Office.
- Morales was rescued from a well as an 18-month-old toddler in 1987 in a highly publicized 58-hour rescue operation.
The players
Jessica McClure Morales
A 40-year-old woman who was once known as 'Baby Jessica' after being rescued from a well as a toddler in 1987, and who was recently arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury following a reported domestic disturbance at her home in Midland, Texas.
Midland County Sheriff's Office
The law enforcement agency that responded to the reported domestic disturbance at Morales' home and arrested her on the assault charge.
What they’re saying
“Everybody in America became godmothers and godfathers of Jessica while this was going on.”
— Ronald Reagan, Former President
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Jessica McClure Morales to be released on bail.
The takeaway
The arrest of Jessica McClure Morales, once known as 'Baby Jessica' after her dramatic rescue from a well as a toddler, raises questions about the long-term impacts of her early childhood trauma and the challenges she may have faced in the decades since the high-profile incident that captivated the nation.
