Death of Melinda Duckett

Melinda Duckett (née Eubank; August 14, 1985 – September 8, 2006) was the mother of Trenton John Duckett, a 2-year-old boy who disappeared from his Leesburg, Florida home on August 27, 2006. She attracted media attention when she committed suicide following an appearance on Nancy Grace. Duckett's family filed a wrongful death claim against Nancy Grace and CNN, alleging that the aggressive questioning traumatized Duckett and led to her suicide.

Duckett was born in South Korea and moved to the United States on Christmas Eve of 1985, at the age of four months, after being adopted by an American couple. She lived in Lockport, New York until she was seventeen years old, when she moved to Florida to live with her adopted grandparents. She attended South Sumter High School with Joshua Duckett, whom she began dating. Melinda became pregnant, and gave birth to Trenton shortly after graduating high school. She and Joshua married in July 2005. The relationship between Josh and Melinda Duckett was “tumultuous” and they separated numerous times before Melinda filed for divorce in July 2006.

Melinda was involuntarily committed under the Baker Act in April 2005 after Joshua alleged that she had threatened to harm Trenton. She was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder in December 2005, but the report indicated there was "no psychological reason that would preclude Melinda from being a capable and loving parent."

Duckett worked for a lawn care company until she was laid off. She became a notary public on August 1, 2006.

Duckett reported her son missing on August 27, 2006. She told police that she went to check on Trenton in his bedroom after she had finished watching a movie, and discovered that Trenton was gone and there was a cut in the window screen above the crib. According to police, she was considered the prime suspect in her son's disappearance but no arrests were made because they hoped she would lead them to Trenton.

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