Jessica McClure Morales, famously known as “Baby Jessica” from her 1987 well rescue in Midland, Texas, was arrested following a domestic disturbance. Now 40 years old, Morales was taken into custody at her Midland County residence by the Sheriff’s Office on Saturday night. She faced charges of assault causing bodily injury related to family violence and was released after posting bond.
Morales became a global sensation as an infant when she fell into a narrow well at her aunt’s house. She spent nearly 58 hours trapped about 22 feet underground before being rescued on October 16, 1987. First responders managed to reach her by drilling a parallel shaft and horizontal tunnel through rock. When she was finally brought to the surface, she suffered from dirt, bruises, and had her head bandaged.
A 1997 Pew Research Center poll noted that Jessica’s rescue received worldwide attention rivaling only the coverage of Princess Diana’s death that same decade. Her father, Chip McClure, recalled being astonished by the media frenzy upon arriving at the hospital. The event drew visits from then-Vice President George Bush and his wife Barbara, both former Midland residents, and President Ronald Reagan made a phone call to the family.
