In October 1987, people around the United States were glued to their televisions as they followed the story of “Baby Jessica.” The 18-month-old girl was in her aunt’s backyard in Midland, Texas, when she accidentally fell into an abandoned 8-inch wide well. For the next 58 hours, around-the-clock coverage captured the intense rescue mission as first responders, oil drillers, and volunteers worked tirelessly to extricate the toddler from 22 feet underground. Thankfully, they were able to get her out, and she went on to have a relatively normal life. But Jessica McClure Morales is now making headlines for a very different reason.
Not many details have been released about her arrest.
On April 11, 2026, the 40-year-old was arrested by deputies from the Midland County Sheriff’s Office following a domestic disturbance at her home in Texas, KDFW reported. She faces a charge of assault causing bodily injury – family violence.
Although authorities have released her booking photo, they haven’t said much more about what happened, KXAN reported. Midland County officials said it could take up to 10 days to process a request for an arrest affidavit, which will give more information about what exactly happened.
Morales was released from Midland County Detention Center after she posted bond, per KDFW, but the bond amount was not released.
She has spoken about her husband in the past.
Thirty years after her harrowing rescue, Jessica McClure Morales spoke with People about her husband. Danny Morales was 13 years old when his wife was trapped in a well. Like many other people around the country, he was invested in the story.
“Danny does remember sitting and watching it,” she told the magazine, adding that he “remembers his mom’s reaction about it.”
Even though his family didn’t have much money, they still made a donation to a trust fund that was created for Jessica. “She went and scrounged every penny she could find to send it to me,” the then 30-year-old said.
Danny Morales said the amount wasn’t much, but they did what they could, and also sent a letter to the McClure family.
“Somewhere in the midst of all the millions of things we got, there was probably a letter from them,” his wife added.
Her husband apparently didn’t know who she was when they met.
Danny Morales could still remember the day his wife was rescued from the well. He said he was at a football game on a Friday when the announcement was made. The following Monday, it was announced again. “They announced it over the intercom, and everybody was crying,” he said.
The couple met through Danny Morales’ sister in 2005. He didn’t realize she was the famous Baby Jessica at the time; he only knew that she would constantly get recognized. But for her, it was love at first sight.
“He was made specifically for me,” she said of Danny Morales, who she married in 2006. On the day they met, “my breath went away, and all I could see was the two of us together. I could see us having kids, I saw us old – my whole life with him flashed before my eyes. I instantly fell in love with him.”
The couple have two children.
