Samantha Geldenhuis

A few months before my mum gave birth to me she started writing a diary and it starts off on the first page saying to my dear Savannah someday I'll give this journal to you so that you can hopefully understand your mother.

My name is Samantha Geldenhuis.

I was born in Savannah, but I didn't know that.

Savannah Lee Barnett.

I grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Australia.

It is the most magnificent place.

I knew my mom as Alex my entire life.

But in reality, she wasn't Alex at all.

She was Leigh.

Leigh Barnett.

In April of 1994, I got a phone call that my dearest friend Leigh had disappeared.

I thought, oh no, don't let this be true.

I never imagined that my good friend Lee would be the subject of an international manhunt.

Did you at all think, I'm going to get caught?

They're going to get me.

Every day.

Every day.

I remember getting a cold when I was up at school and my mom needed me to jump on a plane and come down because she was getting arrested.

Two decades later, authorities have arrested her in Australia.

Happy New Year.