Natasha Ryan, nicknamed "grasshopper" by her daddy, was reportedly kidnapped when she failed to come home after school. That was nearly five years ago when Natasha was 14.

Months went by, but there was no sign of the child. Three years after Natasha disappeared, Leonard Fraser was indicted for her murder, plus the murder of three other women. Natasha’s father and his estranged wife held a memorial service for their daughter. Friends and family said good-bye.

Fraser’s trial did not begin until early April, this year. One week into the trial Prosecutor Paul Rutledge rose one morning and spoke: "Your honor, I am pleased to inform the court that Leonard John Fraser is not guilty of the murder of Natasha Ryan. Natasha Ryan is alive!"

The court was stunned. The defendant, Fraser, took off his glasses and cried.

How could this be? Wait! It gets worse! Natasha had been living at the rented house of a 29-year-old milkman. The house was slightly more than a mile from her mother’s place — all this time.

Police learned of Natasha’s location after receiving an anonymous note (probably from Natasha herself) giving directions to where she’d been living under self-imposed house-arrest for nearly five years. Police said she hid in a cupboard for up to six hours whenever visitors came to the milkman’s house. The girl, now 19, decided to came back from the dead because "the lie had become too big," she told police.

What happens now to the players in this bizarre incident? Police haven’t decided if they’ll charge Natasha with "attempting to pervert justice," or if they’ll charge the milkman with "blocking police work" or "child stealing."

Fraser’s trial for the murder of three other women, ages, 19, 36, and 39, continues by order of the court. Fraser’s defense lawyer wants Natasha to testify to discredit the murder charges because she is still very much alive.

As you can imagine, the media are paying big bucks for this story, but none of the players will admit they’re getting paid anything. Natasha’s father cried from both despair and joy over his daughter’s circumstances. He told the press: "I’m totally mixed up—I really am!"

Editor’s note: Our thanks to Reuters News Service for this story which happened in Rockhampton, Australia.