Twin Sisters' DNA Test Results Uncover a Dark Family Mystery Involving Their Dad's True Identity
December 03, 2022
Audrey Bell certainly didn’t expect good to come from her and her twin sister’s DNA test results as it uncovered a dark family mystery involving their dad’s true identity! But God can do some pretty incredible things, and often when you least expect it. He can create good out of any situation.
Audrey hopped on the internet one afternoon to order a DNA test for her triplets. She wanted to know which one of them was fraternal and which were truly identical. But when she looked closer at the ancestry listed when she got the report, she thought it was strange their heritage was not Italian.
Audrey and her twin sister Cynthia McFadden had also been told they were Italian, and their father was proud of it. Naturally, it led Cynthia to take the DNA test too. Similarly, she was surprised to see that she also had no Italian heritage.
RELATED: Twin Sisters Both Go Into Labor On Their Birthday And Have Babies 90 Minutes Apart
The family assumed the first result was just a glitch but this was the third DNA test revealing they were not Italian at all. By then, their father Richard Palmadesso had passed away, taking any possible answers with him. So the sisters sought answers from their closest living relative, a first cousin. He also took the DNA test and it confirmed the sister’s suspicions, they were not related to their father’s side of the family.
As the mystery deepened, Audrey turned back to the test results and began combing through DNA match profiles. She found she had matched with a man named Tom Martin with a 22 percent match. This meant Tom was either an uncle or grandfather.
DNA Test Results Reveal Family Secret
The family wanted understanding and closure so they reached out to Tom. What the sisters learned next was bittersweet. Tom had been desperate to find his baby brother his entire life. He recounted the tale to Audrey and Cynthia. On July 9, 1945, Tom’s little brother Jerry was kidnapped. Both Tom and Jerry had been out riding bikes that day when the brothers were approached by a woman offering candy. Jerry went off with the woman to get the candy but he never returned.
The sisters wondered: could their father, who they knew their entire lives as Richard Palmadesso, actually be Jerry Martin? They exchanged photos of their father with Tom and were struck by the similarities but it didn’t stop there. Audrey and Cynthia learned Tom loved coconut cake, movies, and acting just as much as their father did.
They all put a theory together. Their grandmother, Isabel Palmadesso may have been desperate enough to kidnap Jerry in order to produce the son her husband, Angelo, was expecting. At the time, Angelo had been serving in the war and had been absent for more than two years. They began to speculate she may have miscarried. The grief and anxiety about Angelo’s return may have driven her to kidnap Jerry, rename him, and tell him he was two years old instead of four.
DNA Test Results Help Family Find Out Answers About Father's Past
It was certainly possible, but Isabel died when Richard was twelve. He was then sent to live with his uncle, Jack Palemdesso. And the family didn’t stay in touch with Richard’s father or that side of the family.
This strange dark secret actually brought some closure. The sisters say their dad seemed to have suffered from constant anxiety and bipolar disorder and they think perhaps his mental health was a result of the childhood trauma of being kidnapped.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The Planets Will Align Perfectly In 2020 To Catch A ‘Christmas Star’ For First Time In 800 Years
How Jerry ended up becoming Richard will remain a mystery. But the sisters are thankful for the new family connections and meeting Tom. And he’s grateful to know his brother was alive and had a family. Today, Tom, his wife Mary, Audrey, and Cynthia are in constant contact. Some might call their discovery a chance encounter or a tragic coincidence. But there was no chance involved. It was God bringing closure for Tom and creating deeper family roots for Cynthia and Audrey.
Posted by Cynthia Palmadesso McFadden on Thursday, October 1, 2015
"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." Psalm 27:10
LISTEN: Newborn Twins Talking Only 1 Hour After Birth Are Showing Off Their Powerful Bond ; Couple Has 38 Children And Here’s The Inspiring Story Of Why They Refuse To Stop
h/t: Cafemom
Featured Image Credit: Facebook
Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Transforming Worry into Trust - Your Daily Prayer - October 24
Worrying does nothing to benefit our lives in any way; it only takes away. It takes away the present moments and present joy you could experience, not to mention it takes away from a peaceful life.
Past Stories
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.