The search began on April 13, 1981, after Colin Johnson's mother, Sharon, went to her ex-husband's home to pick up their 5-year-old son for a regular monthly visit. The divorced couple fought, and Sharon did not return with Colin on Sunday evening. It would be four years before the boy would see his father and his grandmother again. Angelou said she spent more than $100,000 on the search while her son spent his entire savings.

The boy finally was located with the help of a woman who had once lived with the runaway mother and her son. Sharon Johnson received a lenient sentence on the request of Angelou and her ex-husband.