Lost Love segments are sort of the Opera category on Jeopardy!, something that's met with nearly universal groans whenever it comes up. One of the bright spots to them is that they can sometimes have a payoff if an emotional reunion happens, but I noticed that a lot of the times the reunion just feels so awkward. I don't know if the presence of cameras causes some people to not be as emotional or what, but watching it feels awkward. This could also apply to missing people reunited with family or whatevs. What are the most awkward reunions?

Mac McDonald - This was the guy who committed statutory rape on his neighbor, but instead of a "Wanted" case, it's a "Lost Love". Long story short, every time he hooks up with her, her mom chases him off. He impregnated the neighbor, but only got to see his child for a few minutes, and didn't even know what gender it was. Now he wants to leave his kid a million dollar estate. Well the reunion happened, but it kept being mentioned how the daughter had moved on with her life. I don't know if she got the estate or not, or if it was mentioned.

Judy Davis and Becky Terry - This was from the telecenter broadcast, the girl with polio looking for her schoolmate. As much as I loved the live from the telecenter concept, this is the product of what happens when you do live t.v. Both the ladies seemed really lost for words, and it felt really strange. I think Diana picked up on this and tried to salvage things, but it didn't work. They also said a face-to-face reunion probably wasn't in the cards in the near future, and I don't know if it ever happened.

Arthur and Nicholas Karapalous - a bittersweet, yet awkward reunion. Nicholas telling his dad "Oh. Hi." and then launching the basketball at his tiny brother's head was an oddity.

Jackie Dragon - This was the young lady with the really bad perm who was looking for her 3 sisters I believe. When the final sister stops in for the reunion, she hugs the other two, but just puts her hand on Jackie's shoulder, which is weird because it was Jackie who was key in getting everyone reunited. Pretty anticlimactic.

I'm sure there's more, who else has one?

The Alex Cooper reunion seemed awkward. You know his family so was relieved to have found him alive but also had to be quite mad that he put them through that, not just the disappearance but the lifetime of lying about who he was.

"Tyler's" on camera reunion with his mother is another example. You find your son who's been missing and have to bail him out of jail, that must have been awkward. Not to mention he claimed to have amnesia and not remember her and he acted tense when she hugged him.

Craig Williamson's reunion with his wife was sad. You could tell in the initial segment how much she loved him but when they showed them together after he was found they seemed more like casual friends and mentioned they had decided to go their separate ways.

Although this wasn't shown on television I've often wondered how the reunion with Diane Brodbeck and her family went and am sure it must have been awkward. Her mother sits there on national television and swears up and down that her daughter would never help a convicted murderer escape and thats precisely what she did not to mention abandoning her entire family. I'm sure it took them a long time to get over that betrayal.

Mac McDonald - This was the guy who committed statutory rape on his neighbor, but instead of a "Wanted" case, it's a "Lost Love". Long story short, every time he hooks up with her, her mom chases him off. He impregnated the neighbor, but only got to see his child for a few minutes, and didn't even know what gender it was. Now he wants to leave his kid a million dollar estate. Well the reunion happened, but it kept being mentioned how the daughter had moved on with her life. I don't know if she got the estate or not, or if it was mentioned.

I actually did a double take when I first saw this since I instantly thought of that OTHER MacDonald who's been featured on UM, and wondered if he had a new secret I didn't know about.

Anyway, even though it wasn't featured on UM, I can only imagine that the reunion between Gilbert Ortiz and his son Jonathan must have been incredibly awkward and uncomfortable since Jonathan wound up beating up his father up several years later and blamed him for his mother's imprisonment.

Judy Davis and Becky Terry - This was from the telecenter broadcast, the girl with polio looking for her schoolmate. As much as I loved the live from the telecenter concept, this is the product of what happens when you do live t.v. Both the ladies seemed really lost for words, and it felt really strange. I think Diana picked up on this and tried to salvage things, but it didn't work. They also said a face-to-face reunion probably wasn't in the cards in the near future, and I don't know if it ever happened.


Actually, there was a reunion between these two, and I don't think it was awkward at all. I've noticed here on the site with everyone (even the people that don't like lost love cases) that this is one of their favorite reunions and I have to agree with them.

Well, I definitely agree that the Mac McDonald reunion was awkward. In fact, it was the first I thought of.

I disagree about Judy Davis and Becky Terry though. Admittedly, it's been awhile since I watched the telecenter special, so I can't comment about how they were on the air - as you said though, it was live TV. Thrust a live television camera in front of the average person who has never been on television before and see how it goes. However, I distinctly remember that they did have a reunion some time later. It was an update I saw. In fact, I remember Becky running up to Judy (who was in a wheelchair) and giving her a huge hug. I think this was the segment where the old boyfriend even called in and wished them well. Didn't they joke that the two girls taught him how to kiss? Does anyone else remember this?

With regard to Arthur and Nicholas, I don't remember much. However, I always thought he was probably too young to truly grasp all that was going on and perhaps he would have needed some counseling due to his mother's influence.

The one where the amnesia victim didn't recognize his mom when they were reunited was awkward to say the least. He was also wanted for a crime I believe? The same can be said about another amnesia victim who was found dazed at the side of a highway and he was later identified and came home to face embezzlement charges. I forget both of their assumed/real names.

I actually did a double take when I first saw this since I instantly thought of that OTHER MacDonald who's been featured on UM, and wondered if he had a new secret I didn't know about.

Anyway, even though it wasn't featured on UM, I can only imagine that the reunion between Gilbert Ortiz and his son Jonathan must have been incredibly awkward and uncomfortable since Jonathan wound up beating up his father up several years later and blamed him for his mother's imprisonment.

Actually there was a reunion shown although Jonathan's face was never shown. During the early 00s revamp of the show, UM actually filmed a complete update on this case complete with new interviews with the detective featured in the original segment and also showed footage of Gilbert and Jonathan playing baseball together. Sad to see their relationship take a turn for the worse.

I think the Mac McDonald case might be one of the saddest cases profiled on UM and it might be my all time favorite LL case. I think the lesson to be learned from this is quite simply carpe diem. You have this guy who ended up becoming extremely successful and wealthy over the course of his life and yet ended up pretty miserable due to the fact that he chose to run out on both the woman he loved and their daughter.

I'm not surprised that the were some hard feelings emanating from the other side once Mac located his daughter but on the other hand I hope it was able to bring him some closure because I really felt the entire segment was about him making peace and trying to rectify what he felt was probably the biggest mistake he made in his life.

As far as Nicholas Karapalous goes, I've always found it odd they never mentioned what happened to Levia. I guess they figured it wasn't any of our business (which it isn't) but I'm guessing the consequences she faced were mainly dealt with within the realm of "family court" so to speak. I wouldn't be surprised if she had her custody/visitation privileges revoked or even if a restraining order was put into place. However, Nicholas is now obviously an adult and I wonder if he ever chose to get back in contact with his mother?

The Mac McDonald one was so sad and tense. I'm surprised they didn't just do a text update. I was happy for him that he got to hug her and she seemed polite enough, but I felt awful for him. He made the wrong choice, but think about it- wouldn't you run if you thought you were going to jail for up to forty years? The mother had threatened to call the police AND had called the police before on him so no wonder he was scared that's why she was there that night. So while what he did was wrong, it was also not unbelievable. He should have called her up and asked if the mother was going to press charges or something to be sure before totally abandoning her, but it's punishment enough that he was miserable for forty odd years after feeling guilty. I hope that they would at least meet occasionally after that. Am I wrong in remembering that the old girlfriend herself called after watching UM? Maybe it was seeing him feel so guilty and desirous of a reunion (on top of the inheritance) that compelled her to call.

Brenda Merrill - This was the infamous one where she puts the tire in the stove. Anyways, at the end of the original segment, we learn she found one sister and one brother, but she was still looking for 2 brothers and another sister. Well the update came around a short time after, and it says she found one brother, but was still looking for the other brother. There is absolutely no mention of the missing other sister. Usually, if they found out they died or whatever, Stack will mention it, but it was like they were trying to completely wipe her from memory. Weird.

There was one case where all six siblings were found and it was mentioned they reunited, but only five appeared on camera and they never mentioned what name the sixth was using. That person really didn't want to be identified! I don't remember if this was the "Silent Night Suicide" or some other case of a family being split up.

I disagree about Judy Davis and Becky Terry though. Admittedly, it's been awhile since I watched the telecenter special, so I can't comment about how they were on the air - as you said though, it was live TV. Thrust a live television camera in front of the average person who has never been on television before and see how it goes. However, I distinctly remember that they did have a reunion some time later. It was an update I saw. In fact, I remember Becky running up to Judy (who was in a wheelchair) and giving her a huge hug. I think this was the segment where the old boyfriend even called in and wished them well. Didn't they joke that the two girls taught him how to kiss? Does anyone else remember this?

I loved their reunion, which took place 2 months after the live telecenter date. Becky literally ran up the driveway to Judy and both women were crying and laughing at the same time. This was a popular lost love case. If anyone wants to watch it, it's listed as 'Reunited childhood friends' on the forbidden site.

I assume the reunions being filmed was left up to the people themselves. The lost love case of Aleatha Evertz looking for her 2 brothers and 1 sister was solved. However, since their childhood memories were so painful because of their neglectful parents, she requested that cameras not be present for their reunion.

I just watched Judy Davis and Becky Terry's face-to-face reunion, and that went along a lot more smoothly.

I'm not sure if I've seen the other case Dynoguy mentioned, I tend not to remember as much with the lost love cases. Weird that she wouldn't allow cameras though, after all the lengths UM went to.

That kind of reminds me, did anybody ever THANK Unsolved Mysteries? I mean, the show was a pretty huge public service and the first of its kind, but I can't remember if we ever got any shots of people thanking UM for catching criminals, reuniting lost loves, etc.

Actually, UM seemed to receive it's fair share of criticism, suprisingly. Diane Strom certainly didn't seem to like the program.

I'm not sure if I've seen the other case Dynoguy mentioned, I tend not to remember as much with the lost love cases. Weird that she wouldn't allow cameras though, after all the lengths UM went to.

It was a really sad situation. Two parents who barely cared for their 4 young children because they were never home. Aleatha Smith, who was barely 5 years old, was responsible for taking care of her younger siblings Marty, Noreen and Richard who were 4, 3 and 2 years old. Eventually, neighbors noticed that the children were always home alone and they called child authorities.

The four children were sent to live with foster parents Frank and Mary Anne Wiley, who loved them and took great care of them. Aleatha was finally able to live like a normal 5 year old girl. However, a year later, the birth parents were able to get custody of the children back. The Smith kids left with their birth parents and things went back to the way they were with Aleatha having to run the house. At this point, custody was taken away from the parents permanently and all four Smith children were sent to separate foster homes where they lost all contact with each other.

Aleatha lived miserably in 2 separate foster homes for the next several years before eventually being allowed to go back with the Wileys. By then, all she cared about was finding her siblings so at the age of 12, she took her allowance and ran away, taking a bus to Oklahoma in hopes of finding her birth parents so they could tell her where her siblings were. Once she arrived, she didn't have anywhere else to turn so she stopped at a police station where she was declared a runaway and she was sent back to the foster care system.

Given the circumstances of this case, I can kind of see why Aleatha didn't want cameras present for the reunion when her siblings were found. Her entire childhood was filled with nothing but painful memories and she was robbed of growing up with her siblings because her parents didn't give a crap about their well being and emotional state. This segment had more tragic elements to it than a usual Lost Love case.

Robert Stack mentioned during the update that despite Aleatha's wishes that cameras not be present for the reunion, she wishes to thank the UM viewers for helping her lifelong dream finally come true.

oh, ok, I do remember that one now. I think it was pretty early in the show's run. Shame the birth parents got custody for a second time, they clearly didn't deserve it.

I wonder why she also didn't try to find the Willeys, unless she figured they were dead by then.

oh, ok, I do remember that one now. I think it was pretty early in the show's run. Shame the birth parents got custody for a second time, they clearly didn't deserve it.

I wonder why she also didn't try to find the Willeys, unless she figured they were dead by then.

The Wileys were interviewed in the segment. They wanted to find the other Smith kids as well. Apparently child services didn't let Alethea go back to live with them after she ran away.

I haven't seen that one in nearly 20 years! Is it available online? What should I search under? "Althea Smith" brought nothing.

It was really a treat to watch this one. Did someone mention that they filmed an update to the case?

It was really a treat to watch this one. Did someone mention that they filmed an update to the case?

The update was just the picture of the kids with Robert Stack mentioning that it had been solved. It was no more than 15 seconds. I accidently taped over it several years ago so I uploaded the original broadcast of the segment.

getting back to the subject at hand...

Scott Hill ~ My sympathy for Scott Hill was nil. I mean, the guy blows through a ton of money, acts like a simple leg injury is a life-threatening illness, lets his business fail and his employees suffer and abandons his family without a word. His family still cared for him after that, but I don't think he deserved it. I think this has some similarities to Alex Cooper, and that the reunion must have felt awkward for everyone. I think the final insult was when Hill, instead of going back to Mass, made everyone trek all the way out to the Idaho/Montana area, where he was staying. What a turd.

getting back to the subject at hand...

Scott Hill ~ My sympathy for Scott Hill was nil. I mean, the guy blows through a ton of money, acts like a simple leg injury is a life-threatening illness, lets his business fail and his employees suffer and abandons his family without a word. His family still cared for him after that, but I don't think he deserved it. I think this has some similarities to Alex Cooper, and that the reunion must have felt awkward for everyone. I think the final insult was when Hill, instead of going back to Mass, made everyone trek all the way out to the Idaho/Montana area, where he was staying. What a turd.

I'm honestly surprised UM even took the case. It's really an oddity in their canon. I mean at least with Alex Cooper there seemed to be the mystery of finding out exactly what he did to cause him to bolt in the first place. With Hill, we knew what he did from the very start so yeah no sympathy for Hill indeed.

The one where the amnesia victim didn't recognize his mom when they were reunited was awkward to say the least. He was also wanted for a crime I believe? The same can be said about another amnesia victim who was found dazed at the side of a highway and he was later identified and came home to face embezzlement charges. I forget both of their assumed/real names.

Yeah. I remember that one. It was Pat Brown (Carl Broadnik) and it was his wife he didn't remember. You could tell when they met. It was weird. That must be very difficult, you know, loving someone so much, missing them, spending countless days and nights wondering where they are and then they come back and don't even remember you and can't remember you. I don't think he was ever able to regain his memory, or at least on a level decent enough to have all his memories with his family & wife flood back to him.

But yes. He was charged with embezzlement. I don't know if he saw prison time, though.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19980414&id=Gn8xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=laYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1075,8914009

The Mac McDonald one was so sad and tense. I'm surprised they didn't just do a text update. I was happy for him that he got to hug her and she seemed polite enough, but I felt awful for him. He made the wrong choice, but think about it- wouldn't you run if you thought you were going to jail for up to forty years? The mother had threatened to call the police AND had called the police before on him so no wonder he was scared that's why she was there that night. So while what he did was wrong, it was also not unbelievable. He should have called her up and asked if the mother was going to press charges or something to be sure before totally abandoning her, but it's punishment enough that he was miserable for forty odd years after feeling guilty. I hope that they would at least meet occasionally after that. Am I wrong in remembering that the old girlfriend herself called after watching UM? Maybe it was seeing him feel so guilty and desirous of a reunion (on top of the inheritance) that compelled her to call.

I felt bad for him, too. It was clear from the segment that her mother drove him off. Even if it was statutory rape, that doesn't mean the daughter didn't have feelings for him - she ran off to be with him at one point.

I wouldn't be surprised if the mother told her daughter something like "See? He abandoned you just like I said he would when he found out he had a child." His daughter not only grew up without her dad, but probably grew up hearing all sorts of bias about him. Of course a reunion with a parent who abandoned you is going to be awkward and likely unrewarding for both sides.

I'm surprised that more reunions weren't awkward, to be honest. You've got people who have been separated for quite awhile and the expectation that the other person/people involved must have felt the relationship was as important as it is/was to the person who is searching.

I felt bad for him, too. It was clear from the segment that her mother drove him off. Even if it was statutory rape, that doesn't mean the daughter didn't have feelings for him - she ran off to be with him at one point.

I wouldn't be surprised if the mother told her daughter something like "See? He abandoned you just like I said he would when he found out he had a child." His daughter not only grew up without her dad, but probably grew up hearing all sorts of bias about him. Of course a reunion with a parent who abandoned you is going to be awkward and likely unrewarding for both sides.

This.

I think the camera crew would also make any reunion very awkward. Can you imagine an emotional moment like meeting your father or sister for the first time? I'd be crying with emotion and then embarrassed and stilted in my comments because of the camera crew being right there and recording everything. Most people seemed to take it in very good stride. Like the woman who found her ailing, elderly mother. Even though she really didn't speak full sentences back to her, she handled it so well, smiling and just being really glad to see her. So that's really touching and I'm glad most people seemed to handle it well.

I think the camera crew would also make any reunion very awkward. Can you imagine an emotional moment like meeting your father or sister for the first time? I'd be crying with emotion and then embarrassed and stilted in my comments because of the camera crew being right there and recording everything. Most people seemed to take it in very good stride. Like the woman who found her ailing, elderly mother. Even though she really didn't speak full sentences back to her, she handled it so well, smiling and just being really glad to see her. So that's really touching and I'm glad most people seemed to handle it well.

that may be true, but I gotta wonder if most are so caught up in the moment that they forget about the camera.

I felt bad for him, too. It was clear from the segment that her mother drove him off. Even if it was statutory rape, that doesn't mean the daughter didn't have feelings for him - she ran off to be with him at one point.

I wouldn't be surprised if the mother told her daughter something like "See? He abandoned you just like I said he would when he found out he had a child." His daughter not only grew up without her dad, but probably grew up hearing all sorts of bias about him. Of course a reunion with a parent who abandoned you is going to be awkward and likely unrewarding for both sides.


Bear with me, I've not seen the Mac McDonald segment in years, so my recollections are a bit hazy and therefore my opinions may reflect said hazy recollections. So if I get my facts wrong, feel free to correct me where necessary.

I agree that the girlfriend's mother probably did poison her granddaughter against her father. That is unacceptable, IMO.

However, I felt that the segment went a little overboard in painting the girlfriend's mother as an unreasonable monster for not being happy that her sixteen-year-old daughter was dating a twenty-year-old young man in the first place. Although I believe she certainly should have tried to be more understanding about her daughter's feelings toward Mac instead of immediately crying statutory rape and making their lives a living hell, I don't think most parents, even today, would be totally thrilled if their sixteen-year-old starting dating a twenty-year-old. My mother certainly wouldn't. To most parents (my own included), a four-year age difference is a big deal at sixteen. So, although I totally disagree with how she handled the whole situation, I also disagree with how the segment acted as though the mother should have simply minded her own business and just been totally fine with her underage daughter dating an adult (albeit a very young adult) man when I don't think most parents of teens would have felt too much differently. At sixteen, her daughter was living under her roof and therefore was her business.

Sorry if that sounded harsh or insensitive, but I had to get that off my chest.

I'm surprised that more reunions weren't awkward, to be honest. You've got people who have been separated for quite awhile and the expectation that the other person/people involved must have felt the relationship was as important as it is/was to the person who is searching.

I always felt this way too. It reminds me of an episode of Family Ties where Skippy, who was adopted as an infant, meets his biological mother, who ends up being less-than-friendly about him finding her. She is immediately defensive toward Skippy and keeps asking him things like "What could you possibly want from me after all these years?" She pretty much tells him that although she has nothing against him, she really has no interest in starting a relationship with him after having given him up as soon as he was born. I think the episode made a very good point about the fact that sometimes, the birth parents aren't always as eager about meeting the children they gave up for adoption as their children are to meet them.

I think it's amazing that with all the lost love cases featured UM, none (to my knowledge anyway) ever really ended the way that episode of Family Ties did. Although there are many parents who give their children up for adoption under some form of duress (especially years ago when being unmarried and pregnant was considered a huge no-no), there are also those parents who had no such attachment to their baby and who may have even been willing to just give the child up period, adoption or otherwise. Sad but true.

The irony in the latter scenario would be that an adopted child who may have felt out-of-place in their adoptive family would likely have felt even more out-of-place had they been left with their biological parents who may not have really wanted them in the first place.

Bear with me, I've not seen the Mac McDonald segment in years, so my recollections are a bit hazy and therefore my opinions may reflect said hazy recollections. So if I get my facts wrong, feel free to correct me where necessary.

I agree that the girlfriend's mother probably did poison her granddaughter against her father. That is unacceptable, IMO.

However, I felt that the segment went a little overboard in painting the girlfriend's mother as an unreasonable monster for not being happy that her sixteen-year-old daughter was dating a twenty-year-old young man in the first place. Although I believe she certainly should have tried to be more understanding about her daughter's feelings toward Mac instead of immediately crying statutory rape and making their lives a living hell, I don't think most parents, even today, would be totally thrilled if their sixteen-year-old starting dating a twenty-year-old. My mother certainly wouldn't. To most parents (my own included), a four-year age difference is a big deal at sixteen. So, although I totally disagree with how she handled the whole situation, I also disagree with how the segment acted as though the mother should have simply minded her own business and just been totally fine with her underage daughter dating an adult (albeit a very young adult) man when I don't think most parents of teens would have felt too much differently. At sixteen, her daughter was living under her roof and therefore was her business.

Sorry if that sounded harsh or insensitive, but I had to get that off my chest.


Fair points. Something you have to remember though in viewing that segment it is told from Mac McDonald's POV. The segment is going to naturally be sympathetic to his viewpoint and his plight. That being said my read of the segment is that Mac legitimately did love this girl and his intentions with her were honorable despite their age difference which is what makes the segment so heartbreaking to begin with.

To me it just seems like a lot of unnecessary pain caused to some good people because of some bad decisions most of which is on Mac but to his credit he was able to acknowledge that.

Fair points. Something you have to remember though in viewing that segment it is told from Mac McDonald's POV. The segment is going to naturally be sympathetic to his viewpoint and his plight. That being said my read of the segment is that Mac legitimately did love this girl and his intentions with her were honorable despite their age difference which is what makes the segment so heartbreaking to begin with.

To me it just seems like a lot of unnecessary pain caused to some good people because of some bad decisions most of which is on Mac but to his credit he was able to acknowledge that.

I totally give credit to Mac. Most men of his generation would never have looked back and he even admits that he didn't do the right thing, although it's understandable why he felt he was left with little choice but to flee. I think their love was legitimate and he obviously cared for this girl.

I just think that while the actions of the mother-in-law were rather despicable and most parents in the same situation would never have behaved that way, I don't think the fact that she didn't like her daughter dating someone four years older at the age of sixteen in and of itself makes her the bad guy.

There have been a few cases where on this show where you find out that lost loves who died had other families and then just left them to start over. I'm thinking about that guy who served in WWI and the one about the guy who owned the newspaper stand in San Fransisco. I never got that mentality of just leaving your kids behind like that forever. Mac at least tried to atone for his mistake.

I actually asked about this segment a while back. I really felt bad for Mac McDonald. He did seem to regret everything he did and his daughter still came off as bitter about him leaving. (I don’t blame her but I really think her mother/grandmother brainwashed her) I wonder if he is still alive? Wasn’t her mother there when the reunion took place? If I remember correctly she was.

I actually asked about this segment a while back. I really felt bad for Mac McDonald. He did seem to regret everything he did and his daughter still came off as bitter about him leaving. (I don’t blame her but I really think her mother/grandmother brainwashed her) I wonder if he is still alive? Wasn’t her mother there when the reunion took place? If I remember correctly she was.

There was never a filmed reunion from what I recall. They just interviewed mother and daughter once they were informed that Mac was looking for his daughter. Their attitudes could be described as confused perhaps as to why Mac McDonald chose after all these years to try to locate his daughter. The daughter seemed completely confused as to how Mac would fit into her life while the mother seemed confused as to Mac's intentions.

So yeah it was awkward to say the least although they both did indicate that if Mac's intentions were honorable they would be willing to allow him back into their lives.

There was never a filmed reunion from what I recall. They just interviewed mother and daughter once they were informed that Mac was looking for his daughter. Their attitudes could be described as confused perhaps as to why Mac McDonald chose after all these years to try to locate his daughter. The daughter seemed completely confused as to how Mac would fit into her life while the mother seemed confused as to Mac's intentions.

So yeah it was awkward to say the least although they both did indicate that if Mac's intentions were honorable they would be willing to allow him back into their lives.

There was a filmed reunion. It was a tense hug between father and daughter and she was nice enough to him. In the interview she seems upset and so does the mother. But they both seem willing to have him back in their lives to an extent. The mother says that it appears he went through a lot of trouble to find her (she's the one who called the telecenter) and the daughter seemed confused, but much warmer when she actually spoke to him in person. I hope they were able to keep up something after that. He was young and lived with the guilt for decades. He knew what he did was wrong. I think the grandmother is partially responsible for calling the police earlier and I think Mac went through plenty of painful punishment after making his mistake. In the rest of the reunion, he hugs his daughter one more time and says "I just want to hold you" and they share an awkward laugh. It's quite sad, no update music. But at least a reunion happened.

There was a filmed reunion. It was a tense hug between father and daughter and she was nice enough to him. In the interview she seems upset and so does the mother. But they both seem willing to have him back in their lives to an extent. The mother says that it appears he went through a lot of trouble to find her (she's the one who called the telecenter) and the daughter seemed confused, but much warmer when she actually spoke to him in person. I hope they were able to keep up something after that. He was young and lived with the guilt for decades. He knew what he did was wrong. I think the grandmother is partially responsible for calling the police earlier and I think Mac went through plenty of painful punishment after making his mistake. In the rest of the reunion, he hugs his daughter one more time and says "I just want to hold you" and they share an awkward laugh. It's quite sad, no update music. But at least a reunion happened.

Interesting. I have no memory whatsoever of the reunion but a clear memory of what the principals involved had to say. I'm assuming that the reunion was syndicated on "Lifetime" so I guess it's just one of those cases where my memory is misleading me.

I'm glad a reunion occurred and much like you hoped that they were able to continue a relationship with one another.

Another question that comes to mind (given I haven't seen this segment in awhile) is was Mac McDonald ill at the time the segment was made. I remember one scene in particular where he's looking over his spread of land and is talking about how his child is entitled to inherit his wealth or something. Well usually when you hear someone talking about issues of inheritance they are usually near death? I don't recall Mac McDonald being all that old certainly for the time when the segment was aired. So does anyone recall whether or not Mac was ill?

Interesting. I have no memory whatsoever of the reunion but a clear memory of what the principals involved had to say. I'm assuming that the reunion was syndicated on "Lifetime" so I guess it's just one of those cases where my memory is misleading me.

I'm glad a reunion occurred and much like you hoped that they were able to continue a relationship with one another.

Another question that comes to mind (given I haven't seen this segment in awhile) is was Mac McDonald ill at the time the segment was made. I remember one scene in particular where he's looking over his spread of land and is talking about how his child is entitled to inherit his wealth or something. Well usually when you hear someone talking about issues of inheritance they are usually near death? I don't recall Mac McDonald being all that old certainly for the time when the segment was aired. So does anyone recall whether or not Mac was ill?


I don’t remember him talking about being ill. I think since he was “getting up there” in age, he wanted to make sure he would be able to find his daughter to inherit his estate in case something happened to him. I’ve tried to do a google search on him to see if he is still alive but wasn’t able to find anything. He seemed to be mid 60s when this segment aired. I maybe wrong but I THINK he has since passed away (just my opinion though, he might be alive and well for all I know!)

I think the camera crew would also make any reunion very awkward. Can you imagine an emotional moment like meeting your father or sister for the first time? I'd be crying with emotion and then embarrassed and stilted in my comments because of the camera crew being right there and recording everything. Most people seemed to take it in very good stride. Like the woman who found her ailing, elderly mother. Even though she really didn't speak full sentences back to her, she handled it so well, smiling and just being really glad to see her. So that's really touching and I'm glad most people seemed to handle it well.
I've been watching the new UM version in the morning lately and they always end with lost love cases so I thought I'd bump this good thread. I agree with this post. I do think there were some strange lost love cases featured, but I always enjoyed them. I think as you say it would be somewhat awkward or nerve racking for anyone seeing someone that you either never met before or someone you haven't seen in years. But put it on camera or in the case of Judy Davis live TV and it does look strange at times. One thing I noticed on that segment that being live the lady that interviewed them also seemed uncomfortable with her questions throughout that segment and others in that particular episode. On one occasion in an interaction there was an awkward time crunch where a detective got cut very short. You never know with reunions how they will work out for the long haul. I know someone personally who met their dad after years of never knowing them. The meeting was wonderful and there were several wonderful visits afterward but over time the relationship never stuck and sadly there are no more contacts. I would like to know the cases where the relationships continued for the long haul and the ones that did not. I saw the Alex cooper case today for the umpteenth time and for whatever reason I never noticed the anger on the faces of his family members during the reunion that UM showed. I hope they were able to regain their family trust

I wonder how the Charita case turned out. Basically this little girl was in the hospital as a kid to have a bunch of tumors removed from her throat, as I recall, and made friends with another girl named Charita. Charita, as a result of her cancer treatment, was left unable to have children, so the other girl promised that if she ever had a daughter, she'd name it after her. The girls lost touch after being discharged, but the other one remembered her promise and did have a daughter and named her Charita. She was on UM because she wanted them to find her old friend and let her know she'd kept her promise. They did eventually find Charita but I wonder how things played out given that from what I could tell in the update, even she was kind of shocked that her friend from childhood had kept her promise.

I thought half of the Colleen Frangione update was weird.

This was the woman who was paralyzed after another vehicle rammed into her while she was stopped for a stop sign or a red light. The impact of the collision bumped her car and caused it to be rammed by a third vehicle. In the process, her car caught on fire and 2 men got her out. There were other people who assisted, including a couple who called 911 and a woman who appeared to be a nurse.

Anyways, when she was introduced to the first guy, it was great. He had flowers, a big hug and a kiss for her and everything. The second guy came a half hour later (was he late?) and it was just really awkward. He gives her this cold looking handshake and said something to the effect of how initially he thought she was looking for publicity, or something like that. He didn't say much else and seemed uncomfortable being there for some reason.

Mac McDonald is still alive actually. I googled the him only a month back and found commentary about the business he has and one poster stated "he's the best even now that he's in his 80s". The comment was recent too so I'm assuming unless he passed very recent, he is still alive.

Craig Williamson & Christine Reinhart. I felt really bad for her. She was so devoted and he didn't remember her.

Wonder if Charita Harding is still friends with her friend

Craig Williamson & Christine Reinhart. I felt really bad for her. She was so devoted and he didn't remember her.

Yes, this one. She was so in love with Craig, and wanted him back so bad, and he just didn't remember. I was so heartbroken for her.

I remember the McDonald story but not the reunion. I understand the mom being upset with her 16 year old daughter and a 20 year old guy, but did they state if that was actually statutory rape where they lived? Just asking because I know the age of consent here is 16, and is in other places too. Now some places have the age differential statues too (such as a 15 year old an give consent but only to someone no more than 2 years older, etc..), but I didn't remember what the exact case was with that one.

I thought the Alex Cooper one was weird too. Just something uncomfortable about them being back together. I hope everything worked out with it.

I remember Jackie Dragon and her hair, but I don't remember that reunion either lol.

Dang it there was another one I was going to mention. It wasn't even technically a reunion but it was one hell of an awkward moment. If I think of it again I'll edit it in.

One of my favorite reunions was Margie Hamilton meeting the son her husband had given up for adoption behind her back when she was 15. Even so it was kind of hilarious because the son tries to make conversation and says, "Been a a long time" and she replies, "Uh, yeah." :lol: Still a touching reunion but that was a funny moment.

Mac McDonald is still alive actually. I googled the him only a month back and found commentary about the business he has and one poster stated "he's the best even now that he's in his 80s". The comment was recent too so I'm assuming unless he passed very recent, he is still alive.

I was always interested in this case because he ended up owning the first Harley dealership in Reno and still lives there. I went to college in Reno and always liked to follow the mysteries in northern Nevada.

I thought half of the Colleen Frangione update was weird.

This was the woman who was paralyzed after another vehicle rammed into her while she was stopped for a stop sign or a red light. The impact of the collision bumped her car and caused it to be rammed by a third vehicle. In the process, her car caught on fire and 2 men got her out. There were other people who assisted, including a couple who called 911 and a woman who appeared to be a nurse.

Anyways, when she was introduced to the first guy, it was great. He had flowers, a big hug and a kiss for her and everything. The second guy came a half hour later (was he late?) and it was just really awkward. He gives her this cold looking handshake and said something to the effect of how initially he thought she was looking for publicity, or something like that. He didn't say much else and seemed uncomfortable being there for some reason.

There are many people who believe that good deeds are best done anonymously. If the second rescuer is from that school of thought, he would have been very uncomfortable with the accolades and reunion. Some people undergo a weird sort of stress about saving someone's life. They begin to think about what would have happened if they had done one tiny thing differently that day. For example "What if I had stopped for coffee? She'd be dead." "What if I wore shoes that took longer to tie? She'd be dead." It can cause existential angst almost akin to survivor's guilt.

There are many people who believe that good deeds are best done anonymously. If the second rescuer is from that school of thought, he would have been very uncomfortable with the accolades and reunion. Some people undergo a weird sort of stress about saving someone's life. They begin to think about what would have happened if they had done one tiny thing differently that day. For example "What if I had stopped for coffee? She'd be dead." "What if I wore shoes that took longer to tie? She'd be dead." It can cause existential angst almost akin to survivor's guilt.

That's very interesting. I wonder if that fact that she was paralyzed made him feel some kind of anxiety, along what you are saying, but like "what if I had done _______ " differently, would she have not been paralyzed, or whatever. I don't remember this segment in particular but that is kind of an odd statement that she wanted publicity. I don't really get what he means by that... was he just doubting her sincerity? Is he just cynical by nature? Does he feel guilt that he couldn't do more? Or did he, like you say, just prefer to remain anonymous. Of course he didn't have to call in or go to the reunion.

That's very interesting. I wonder if that fact that she was paralyzed made him feel some kind of anxiety, along what you are saying, but like "what if I had done _______ " differently, would she have not been paralyzed, or whatever. I don't remember this segment in particular but that is kind of an odd statement that she wanted publicity. I don't really get what he means by that... was he just doubting her sincerity? Is he just cynical by nature? Does he feel guilt that he couldn't do more? Or did he, like you say, just prefer to remain anonymous. Of course he didn't have to call in or go to the reunion.

Colleen had went on UM to find and thank the men who saved her, he thought she might be in it for the attention.

How about the Baskin Children? They were kidnapped by their grandparents and finally found 20 years later. Their parents, Mark and Debbie Baskin flew out for a televised reunion, but their children snubbed them and never showed. Several years later they have never heard a single word from either child, despite the fact that the children are in their thirties now :/

How about the Baskin Children? They were kidnapped by their grandparents and finally found 20 years later. Their parents, Mark and Debbie Baskin flew out for a televised reunion, but their children snubbed them and never showed. Several years later they have never heard a single word from either child, despite the fact that the children are in their thirties now :/

This!! This is the one I was thinking of that I posted I couldn't remember. I know it wasn't exactly a reunion, but it is awkward that they still won't see their parents. I had such hopes for the parents when they were found, and it was such a let down to find out those kids would not see them at all.

The case of David Shipenburg was another one, although there really was no reunion, just closure. David was kidnapped by his father in May 1974, when he was 7 years old. Marianne Malky, David's mother, located his wife and was able to speak to her about David, after looking for him for over 30 years. The wife informed Marianne that David was alive and well but wanted nothing to do with her(Marianne).

How about the Baskin Children? They were kidnapped by their grandparents and finally found 20 years later. Their parents, Mark and Debbie Baskin flew out for a televised reunion, but their children snubbed them and never showed. Several years later they have never heard a single word from either child, despite the fact that the children are in their thirties now :/

Yeah, the Baskin case...the only way to properly describe my feelings towards the grandparents is with this smilie: :mad:

What really gets me about the grandparents is that the Baskins did have a third child, younger than the two ones the grandparents kidnapped. As I recall, the parents were going through tough financial times and sent the two older ones to live with the grandparents, but continued to look after the youngest. But the grandparents refuse to return the kids and make up wild accusation about the parents being Satanists who were horribly abusing their kids. When the accusations are proven bogus, the grandparents disappear with the other kids.

The thing that gets me is that even though the grandparents believed their grandchildren were being horribly abused, they didn't even bother trying to fight for custody for the youngest. What rationale did they use for that decision?! "We must rescue these poor children who have been horribly abused by their parents except for the youngest who is apparently the reincarnation of Hitler and therefore deserves cruel, sadistic abuse." :mad:

Yeah, the Baskin case...the only way to properly describe my feelings towards the grandparents is with this smilie: :mad:

What really gets me about the grandparents is that the Baskins did have a third child, younger than the two ones the grandparents kidnapped. As I recall, the parents were going through tough financial times and sent the two older ones to live with the grandparents, but continued to look after the youngest. But the grandparents refuse to return the kids and make up wild accusation about the parents being Satanists who were horribly abusing their kids. When the accusations are proven bogus, the grandparents disappear with the other kids.

The thing that gets me is that even though the grandparents believed their grandchildren were being horribly abused, they didn't even bother trying to fight for custody for the youngest. What rationale did they use for that decision?! "We must rescue these poor children who have been horribly abused by their parents except for the youngest who is apparently the reincarnation of Hitler and therefore deserves cruel, sadistic abuse." :mad:

Yep! If the grandparents were truly concerned about the children they would have taken all three! To me that proves the children were never in real danger. And it looks like the youngest son (now an adult) who was left behind has a very close and loving relationship with his parents... He would know their character better than anyone! I browsed their facebook a few years ago hoping there had finally been a reunion. I THINK I saw that The Baskins ended up adopting some kids (now adults) but my mind is a little hazy so I can't say for sure... They seem like such strong and positive people even now despite all that has happened.

The case of David Shipenburg was another one, although there really was no reunion, just closure. David was kidnapped by his father in May 1974, when he was 7 years old. Marianne Malky, David's mother, located his wife and was able to speak to her about David, after looking for him for over 30 years. The wife informed Marianne that David was alive and well but wanted nothing to do with her(Marianne).

Wow, that one sounds like a real heartbreaker too... that poor mother!

Yes, obviously David had been brainwashed by the father and led to believe his mother was bad news.

We have a case here in MN like this right now. The mother kidnapped the daughters in 2013. Mother was arrested in FL earlier this year, on parental alienation charges or something like that.. The daughters were just found today in western MN. It's thought they were helped by some underground group who helps abuse victims. They claim they were abused but most people think they were brainwashed by the mother. Same as the Baskins there were other kids the mom left behind with this "horrible, abusive" man. The daughters want nothing to do with the dad. These situations happen too frequently and it's sad when the child wants nothing to do with the parent(s) who love them.

Pat Browns wife greeting him "do you know me do you know me" like she is greeting her dog�� I saw this one again this morning and lol 'd at this

Not so much on topic, but I adore the black man and white women who reunited and reunited with the daughter they had to give up. They all looked smitten!

The bittersweet one where the girl was looking for her sister but it turned out that she had died. I can't remember her name but the reunion with her sister's family seemed kind of awkward if not very sad

Mac McDonald died in 2017:

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rgj/obituary.aspx?pid=185327970

Unsolved Mysteries mentioned that he never married and had no children but his obituary says otherwise and does not mention his daughter from UM.

He is survived by his son Douglas McDonald and grandchildren, Thea, Logan, and Ray McDonald

Mac McDonald died in 2017:

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rgj/obituary.aspx?pid=185327970

Unsolved Mysteries mentioned that he never married and had no children but his obituary says otherwise and does not mention his daughter from UM.

An earlier post went out of their way to make this guy sound like some sad old man, but reading that it sounds like he lived a heck of a life.

Here's how I've always assumed these reunions go.

Everybody gets dressed up in their worst 80s / 90s fashions, you show up with a big bouquet of balloons, everybody hugs while a camera crew silently stares at you. And everything is just great.
Then what?
Nobody really has anything in common after not seeing each other for 40 years so at most you might share a phone call around christmas for a few years, but eventually that gets downgraded to a christmas card with a nice note, which eventually gets downgraded to nothing.

An earlier post went out of their way to make this guy sound like some sad old man, but reading that it sounds like he lived a heck of a life.

He also has a child, and not the child from UM! A child from a previous relationship which the show did not mention. They mentioned that he had no children and that he wants his child to have his fortune before he passed away. That son, Douglas has three children, which means that he was a grandfather.

The Wiki page on this case makes no mention of his son that was mentioned in his obituary:

http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/The_Child_of_Mac_McDonald

Yep! If the grandparents were truly concerned about the children they would have taken all three! To me that proves the children were never in real danger. And it looks like the youngest son (now an adult) who was left behind has a very close and loving relationship with his parents... He would know their character better than anyone! I browsed their facebook a few years ago hoping there had finally been a reunion. I THINK I saw that The Baskins ended up adopting some kids (now adults) but my mind is a little hazy so I can't say for sure... They seem like such strong and positive people even now despite all that has happened.

The excuse was "If we didn't flee with the 2 we had we would have lost all three. They were coming to get them, and we didn't have time to try to get Michael." Supposedly, they prayed for Michael all the time even though they left with these Satan worshippers. I guess that makes it all better. :crazy:

Sad to hear about Mac's passing. He came off as very sincere and kind of desperate to try and right some wrongs from the past. You can't blame an old man for what he did when he was pretty much a child. He wasn't that kid anymore. The old man just wanted to try and redeem himself a bit.

Sad to hear about Mac's passing. He came off as very sincere and kind of desperate to try and right some wrongs from the past. You can't blame an old man for what he did when he was pretty much a child. He wasn't that kid anymore. The old man just wanted to try and redeem himself a bit.

Only if the UM bit is true and not what was said in his obituary. UM made it sound like the child he reunited with was the only child he had when his obituary proves otherwise.

Sad to hear about Mac's passing. He came off as very sincere and kind of desperate to try and right some wrongs from the past. You can't blame an old man for what he did when he was pretty much a child. He wasn't that kid anymore. The old man just wanted to try and redeem himself a bit.

I absolutely loved the reunions on this show. However, this was one I tended to skip over because it's uncomfortable. I understand the daughter's hesitation because she says outright, like it or not, he left her mother to raise a child on her own. But there is hope that maybe they could start to develope some sort of a relationship. This is not the typical reunion that melts your heart.

I actually watched the segment this morning. and it is hard, but I will say that UM did a good job of making it realistic by not having them oversell the reunion for the cameras. you could tell it was tough for both of them and Mac had sincere remorse for his decisions. When I watch the segment now I do wonder the accuracy of Mac's recounting of the original story of when he met his daughter (As a baby). It is a very strange story.

As the show continued on season after season, do you think they televised less and less of these reunions because it might not create a "happy moment"?

Maybe between budget concerns and potential family turmoil, it was best to have Stack announce that there was a family reunion.

I'm perusing season 8 and there's very few if any of these reunions.

The Charlie Best reunion was one of the most memorable ones for me. It didn't seem awkward at all. It was sad that he died but I like that the little addendum rob saying he was finally at peace because of reuniting with Ada

The Mac McDonald segment is one of the few UM segments that I, having seen 2 or 3 times (and that's compared to UM segments I've seen 10-15 times!) is one I'd just as soon skip over in future. I recognize he walked out on his potential wife and his child, but the parents acted like they wanted him executed, and in such a situation, what was he supposed to do? What if they got him to jail for some extended period and he didn't really get to see his daughter? Then there was such coldness from the daughter and mother, albeit before Mac and the daughter meet. Maybe the mother could've directed her coldness to her parents. I would have just as soon UM have been more tactful in 1992 and just done an on-screen update that they found each other and left it at that.

What a far cry from the updates like Lorene Houtkin, Georgia Boyd's relatives, the young man finding his big brother, and many more. I guess this segment could also fall under my "most irritating/obnoxious" segment list.

I couldn't stand the daughter in the segment. She was hiding her pure hatred of this man even though she ended up having a great life and was plenty old enough to understand why he left. He would've been thrown in jail, she would've grown up with the stigma of having a jail bird father and would've resented him even more for that probably.

Here's how I've always assumed these reunions go.

Everybody gets dressed up in their worst 80s / 90s fashions, you show up with a big bouquet of balloons, everybody hugs while a camera crew silently stares at you. And everything is just great.
Then what?
Nobody really has anything in common after not seeing each other for 40 years so at most you might share a phone call around christmas for a few years, but eventually that gets downgraded to a christmas card with a nice note, which eventually gets downgraded to nothing.

I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment. However, the concept of people slowly fading away and eventually being completely out of your life isn’t exclusive to being reunited with a long lost friend or family member. It happens all the time in all walks of life.

As I enter the fortieth year of my own life, I can think of dozens of people I was once very close to that I have lost all contact with. The vast majority of whom are people I never had a quarrel with either. People just simply grow apart and lose touch. Whether it is due to starting their own families, focusing on their careers, relocating or a combination of any or all of those things, it just happens. I consider myself to be a very sentimental person so it definitely hits me right in the feels when I think of someone I was once close to and haven’t seen or heard from in many years. Especially if they pass away. Very sad.

Stop and think about something else. This is the instant information and digital era. As easy as it is to lose touch with somebody in this day and age, it was much easier to do so in past generations.

My absolute favorite reunion was Mitchell the Asian/Hawaiian soldier with the guy who saved his life in Vietnam.

My absolute favorite reunion was Mitchell the Asian/Hawaiian soldier with the guy who saved his life in Vietnam.

Mine too. Both of them seemed so legitimately happy to see each other.

My absolute favorite reunion was Mitchell the Asian/Hawaiian soldier with the guy who saved his life in Vietnam.

I too loved this reunion. One of the best on the show.

I couldn't stand the daughter in the segment. She was hiding her pure hatred of this man even though she ended up having a great life and was plenty old enough to understand why he left. He would've been thrown in jail, she would've grown up with the stigma of having a jail bird father and would've resented him even more for that probably.
this is one story that I cannot overreact to any one person for what they did and how they felt at the time. UM captured the truth of a believable story rather than pushing an over glamourized reunion that others recently posted about. I feel a lot of the reunions were sincere and there was at least one segment I can think of where a person was found and opted not to reunite (the drug/suicide hotline segment). Even with the negativity surrounding Mac's segment it sounds like all parties made out well and got some closure on the truth. I do wonder how it went afterward. This one was different where you had a father showing the bravery to search for a daughter that he never knew. there were quite a few where it was the opposite.

I feel a lot of the reunions were sincere and there was at least one segment I can think of where a person was found and opted not to reunite (the drug/suicide hotline segment).

There was a special circumstance in that case because "Libby" was still a counselor and was required to remain anonymous. But she did call the telecenter and spoke on the phone with James.

That was an underrated LL case. Very poignant with a happy ending all around despite no televised reunion.

Brenda Merrill - This was the infamous one where she puts the tire in the stove. Anyways, at the end of the original segment, we learn she found one sister and one brother, but she was still looking for 2 brothers and another sister. Well the update came around a short time after, and it says she found one brother, but was still looking for the other brother. There is absolutely no mention of the missing other sister. Usually, if they found out they died or whatever, Stack will mention it, but it was like they were trying to completely wipe her from memory. Weird.

I did little extra sleuthing on this since they found the brother "Keith" who was living in the town where I was born (now known as Keith Robinson). Also Brenda, Linda and Butch reunited with Keith in the next town over from where I grew up. I guess I figured I might somehow know one of them.

Anywho...first thing I did was google Keith Robinson Hornell, NY and the first thing that comes up is an article from a local news paper, 49 felony counts of "incidents that occurred with young children between 2009 and 2012. The mugshot sure looks like the same Keith we met in the update, and the address listed in the article places him in the next town over from Hornell, NY. Article states his age in 2012 was 53, which places his birth year in 1959.

I guess it's pretty unrelated, and I'm not here to do any name slandering or anything like that, but it's public record. But it makes me wonder if his upbringing had a terrible effect on him, given he was raised by his older sister alone, and then the squalor conditions he was placed in by his actual mother after the "tire fire". After that he was he and Glenda were retrieved by Brenda and subsequently placed in foster care. In the reunion the siblings went on about how he was so nice and his wife kids were so nice as well.

They did find the other brother Eric in Oklahoma. Even in that update there is still no mention of the sister Glenda. Since Glenda was the one living in squalor with Keith, and we now know how he turned out. It makes me wonder if she turned out some kind of messed up and they didn't want anything to do with her, or if they ever even found her and UM just dropped it.

An awkward reunion not mentioned in here (as far as I can find) is https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/The_Mother_of_Barbara_Smith_and_Barbara_Ratner

However, because she had not told anyone about having had two children while single, the broadcast was not allowed to show their reunion.

Way to put your mother on blast on national television.

Eleanor Platt & John Alias reunion with Rosemarie was a good segment but I always thought their reunion was kind of off. Recently I read Eleanor's obituary and she has no children or grand children listed in her obit and further reading says she was in a facility and the people at the facility buried her--basically she had no family.

Its safe to say Rosemarie and Eleanor didn't end up being close at all as she isn't mentioned anywhere in the obit nor her children.

The odd reunion I remember was the woman who says her birth mother, who was an immigrant, pretended to be the adoptive mother upon arrival at the hospital (with the adoptive mother's full participation.) The birth mom was a field worker, no money and could not afford a baby. So now grown daughter looks for, and finds her! She goes to meet her and the poor lady was on her last legs, not mobile and I don't meet to sound unpleasant but it was questionable if she was aware of all going on around her. Grown daughter says, "I needed a mom!" then asks her "May I call you Mom" The lady says "Of course!" and I really don't think she knew what she was agreeing to. Anyone else remember this? Agree? Disagree?

Here's how I've always assumed these reunions go.

Everybody gets dressed up in their worst 80s / 90s fashions, you show up with a big bouquet of balloons, everybody hugs while a camera crew silently stares at you. And everything is just great.
Then what?
Nobody really has anything in common after not seeing each other for 40 years so at most you might share a phone call around christmas for a few years, but eventually that gets downgraded to a christmas card with a nice note, which eventually gets downgraded to nothing.

I agree! Yeah it is great we share a bloodline but the reality is: I don't know you!

The odd reunion I remember was the woman who says her birth mother, who was an immigrant, pretended to be the adoptive mother upon arrival at the hospital (with the adoptive mother's full participation.) The birth mom was a field worker, no money and could not afford a baby. So now grown daughter looks for, and finds her! She goes to meet her and the poor lady was on her last legs, not mobile and I don't meet to sound unpleasant but it was questionable if she was aware of all going on around her. Grown daughter says, "I needed a mom!" then asks her "May I call you Mom" The lady says "Of course!" and I really don't think she knew what she was agreeing to. Anyone else remember this? Agree? Disagree?

I remember it well. I do think the old woman was lucid enough to understand just not able to verbalize or react physically like she should have been able to. It did come off as a bit awkward though.

I remember it well. I do think the old woman was lucid enough to understand just not able to verbalize or react physically like she should have been able to. It did come off as a bit awkward though.

I agree and I still felt bad for the daughter as I think she wanted more than the woman was able to give.

I agree and I still felt bad for the daughter as I think she wanted more than the woman was able to give.

I found it pretty poignant that by the time she was able to find her mother, her health had deteriorated pretty badly. I think she was aware, but only to a certain point. Sadly, it appears they both passed away within months of each other 4 years later:

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Rose_Marie_Luttmer

I'm guessing the camera crews experienced way more awkwardness for all of the reunions (and interviews for that matter) than we could ever imagine. Who knows how much had to be edited out! The tension of the Alex Cooper/Mac McDonald reunions must have been immense!

I found it pretty poignant that by the time she was able to find her mother, her health had deteriorated pretty badly. I think she was aware, but only to a certain point. Sadly, it appears they both passed away within months of each other 4 years later:

https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Rose_Marie_Luttmer

I'm guessing the camera crews experienced way more awkwardness for all of the reunions (and interviews for that matter) than we could ever imagine. Who knows how much had to be edited out! The tension of the Alex Cooper/Mac McDonald reunions must have been immense!

So sad but glad they had each other for four years!

There was a special circumstance in that case because "Libby" was still a counselor and was required to remain anonymous. But she did call the telecenter and spoke on the phone with James.

That was an underrated LL case. Very poignant with a happy ending all around despite no televised reunion.

I thought this was a good segment as well. I still remember one of his corny jokes:

"My mind is like a bad neighborhood. Don't go in there alone"

An awkward reunion not mentioned in here (as far as I can find) is https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/The_Mother_of_Barbara_Smith_and_Barbara_Ratner

However, because she had not told anyone about having had two children while single, the broadcast was not allowed to show their reunion.

Way to put your mother on blast on national television.

I often wondered how many cases were like this where the birth parent saw the special or heard about it and denied it was them to friends or chose not to respond. The two Barbara's were blessed that their mother chose to respond. Adoptions were mostly closed back then and people often times started new lives and tried to forget the past.

I know someone who tracked their bio mother on Ancestry DNA and he was so excited to have finally found her. He found her facebook and sent a message. She replied to him she had no idea what he was talking about she only had two children and to never contact her again. She blocked him. Obviously Ancesty DNA confirmed the match she just wanted nothing to do with him. Sadly he felt she didn't want anyone to know she had been with a black man. I tried my best to be there for him and I told him sounds like he was better off without such a person in his life. The least she could have done was be cordial to him and explain she didn't wish to have a relationship at this time. Some people truly are better off not searching for birth parents because they have the right to not want to be found.

Moral of the story is you take a gamble when you try to connect with people because they have the right to be left alone.

Some people truly are better off not searching for birth parents because they have the right to not want to be found.

Moral of the story is you take a gamble when you try to connect with people because they have the right to be left alone.

My thoughts exactly. What right does Unsolved Mysteries have to put peoples full names and tell their most personal secrets out to a national audience. It's a pretty serious invasion of privacy in some cases.

My thoughts exactly. What right does Unsolved Mysteries have to put peoples full names and tell their most personal secrets out to a national audience. It's a pretty serious invasion of privacy in some cases.
Having children, whether you raise them yourself or not, leaves you with consequences for your actions.

Having children, whether you raise them yourself or not, leaves you with consequences for your actions.

Yes!! Exactly!

I thought this was a good segment as well. I still remember one of his corny jokes:

"My mind is like a bad neighborhood. Don't go in there alone"



I often wondered how many cases were like this where the birth parent saw the special or heard about it and denied it was them to friends or chose not to respond. The two Barbara's were blessed that their mother chose to respond. Adoptions were mostly closed back then and people often times started new lives and tried to forget the past.

I know someone who tracked their bio mother on Ancestry DNA and he was so excited to have finally found her. He found her facebook and sent a message. She replied to him she had no idea what he was talking about she only had two children and to never contact her again. She blocked him. Obviously Ancesty DNA confirmed the match she just wanted nothing to do with him. Sadly he felt she didn't want anyone to know she had been with a black man. I tried my best to be there for him and I told him sounds like he was better off without such a person in his life. The least she could have done was be cordial to him and explain she didn't wish to have a relationship at this time. Some people truly are better off not searching for birth parents because they have the right to not want to be found.

Moral of the story is you take a gamble when you try to connect with people because they have the right to be left alone.

Reminds me of a "Long Lost Family" where a biracial man (Caucasian/African American) was looking for his birth mother. She was located but would NOT back off that the bio dad was Italian. She just could NOT admit she had been with an AA man. Finally......she cracked as the son (if I remember) had a 23 and Me test that proved his heritage. "Oh yes, now I remember!" He was just glad to have found her. She had put down on the birth certificate that the birth dad was Italian!

I would tell people if they are searching for birth parents: Be careful what you find....are you ready for what you may unearth?

Having children, whether you raise them yourself or not, leaves you with consequences for your actions.

Welp, using that logic abortions are preferable to adoptions. I don't think that's what you intended, but there you are.

Welp, using that logic abortions are preferable to adoptions. I don't think that's what you intended, but there you are.
No I am NOT THERE and that is without a doubt one of the DUMBEST things I've ever read............

Well, heyo....

The mod's back. Back again. The mod's back. Tell your friends.

Let's not divulge into a debate about adoption vs. abortion. At least not here. We're just having fun talking about cold cases and unsolved mysteries, right?

Righteyo

I know this has been discussed at lengths on another thread recently bumped... but how awkward was the Arthur Paul Beal reunion with his mom?

Dang.

I know this has been discussed at lengths on another thread recently bumped... but how awkward was the Arthur Paul Beal reunion with his mom?

Dang.
he was one of the worst phoneys I've ever seen. I think he went to the Steven Seagal school of acting.

he was one of the worst phoneys I've ever seen. I think he went to the Steven Seagal school of acting.

Oh it was phony and awkward because he was so phony

So sad but glad they had each other for four years!

Did not know that the daughter passed away so soon. Sad.

Big Mac segment was so cringe worthy. The daughter was understandably upset so why go on tv and meet with him. I think there’s some guilt in there somewhere in the mother too.

The tension of the Alex Cooper/Mac McDonald reunions must have been immense!

Technically, the Alex Cooper update was not a reunion as it had already happened at some unknown time before The UM crew arrived to film. As much as I love reunions, I think televising this one would have been inappropriate anyway given the circumstances of his disappearance. The family needed this moment to themselves before sharing their update with the public. I don't think any of them would have been emotionally ready to handle an interview immediately following their reunion.

But yes. You could tell the family was still struggling with what happened by the time the update was filmed.

Technically, the Alex Cooper update was not a reunion as it had already happened at some unknown time before The UM crew arrived to film. As much as I love reunions, I think televising this one would have been inappropriate anyway given the circumstances of his disappearance. The family needed this moment to themselves before sharing their update with the public. I don't think any of them would have been emotionally ready to handle an interview immediately following their reunion.

But yes. You could tell the family was still struggling with what happened by the time the update was filmed.

Good point. Judging by the body language of Alex and his wife during their interviews in the update, I'm guessing she gave him the tongue lashing of his life upon their actual reunion.

Oh it was phony and awkward because he was so phony

YES, all I could see in that reunion was my ex husband, he had the same hyper-focused, overacting facade going on. :lol:

Mac McDonald died in 2017:

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rgj/obituary.aspx?pid=185327970

Unsolved Mysteries mentioned that he never married and had no children but his obituary says otherwise and does not mention his daughter from UM.

Begs the question on how/why UM informed us otherwise. Perhaps they never imagined people would go looking or that the internet would be so big for people to find such info.

Lorene Roberts was another kind of awkward one. I know she'd had mental health issues over the years, but I wondered if she was also in the early stages of dementia. Did anyone else get the impression that she didn't 100% recognize her relatives or why they were looking for her?

Lorene Roberts was another kind of awkward one. I know she'd had mental health issues over the years, but I wondered if she was also in the early stages of dementia. Did anyone else get the impression that she didn't 100% recognize her relatives or why they were looking for her?

Dementia may have been a possibility when you consider she passed away 6 years after the story was broadcast. I do believe she was simply an introvert who wasn't one to openly display her happiness and she had a consistent pattern back home. There was never any mention of her children. Maybe they rejected her due to what she did and made no effort to contact them. After staying for 3 months she moved back to resume her life.

I just saw the Mac McDonald story. It is interesting that his daughter was not mentioned in his obituary. Possible that things did not work out and the old wounds were not forgiven. I am glad that he did have a family and was not alone.

Dementia may have been a possibility when you consider she passed away 6 years after the story was broadcast. I do believe she was simply an introvert who wasn't one to openly display her happiness and she had a consistent pattern back home. There was never any mention of her children. Maybe they rejected her due to what she did and made no effort to contact them. After staying for 3 months she moved back to resume her life.

I think in the segment where they were looking for Lorene (before the update) the sister mentions that they had found Lorene's children. But you are right, there is no mention of them in the update. Perhaps they didn't want the publicity. Perhaps they couldn't be there the day the camera crew showed up. It could be a number of things.

I do not know if this qualifies as making a reunion awkward, but when I saw the Jackie Dragon reunion, I could not get over how different the sisters looked from each other, and that only Jackie resembled her mom.

Anyone else notice that?

The reunion between Sally Lou Briggs Riley, Eleanor Wozniak and John Elias while it was sweet it just seemed Sally was faking it the whole time for the camera and that she really didn’t want anything to do with John or Eleanor. I hope I’m wrong

It's funny when they have the airport reunions. You can see a lot of people in the background looking at the cameras and hugging like :confused:

The update was just the picture of the kids with Robert Stack mentioning that it had been solved. It was no more than 15 seconds. I accidently taped over it several years ago so I uploaded the original broadcast of the segment.

I always wanted to see that update again...its been probably 20 years. I found it pretty compelling.

I did little extra sleuthing on this since they found the brother "Keith" who was living in the town where I was born (now known as Keith Robinson). Also Brenda, Linda and Butch reunited with Keith in the next town over from where I grew up. I guess I figured I might somehow know one of them.

Anywho...first thing I did was google Keith Robinson Hornell, NY and the first thing that comes up is an article from a local news paper, 49 felony counts of "incidents that occurred with young children between 2009 and 2012. The mugshot sure looks like the same Keith we met in the update, and the address listed in the article places him in the next town over from Hornell, NY. Article states his age in 2012 was 53, which places his birth year in 1959.

I guess it's pretty unrelated, and I'm not here to do any name slandering or anything like that, but it's public record. But it makes me wonder if his upbringing had a terrible effect on him, given he was raised by his older sister alone, and then the squalor conditions he was placed in by his actual mother after the "tire fire". After that he was he and Glenda were retrieved by Brenda and subsequently placed in foster care. In the reunion the siblings went on about how he was so nice and his wife kids were so nice as well.

They did find the other brother Eric in Oklahoma. Even in that update there is still no mention of the sister Glenda. Since Glenda was the one living in squalor with Keith, and we now know how he turned out. It makes me wonder if she turned out some kind of messed up and they didn't want anything to do with her, or if they ever even found her and UM just dropped it.

What happened to Glenda?
They didn't mentioned her in the end.:confused:

I have not seen all of these segments yet, but I don't find anything wrong with them.
To expect a certain reaction from everyone involved, especially on camera, is unreasonable. People react differently and some social awkwardness is a normal part of life for many people.
I never groan during these segments either, they are a refreshing snapshot of life, particularly of the era in which most of them happen. Maybe it's the history buff in me, but I find them fascinating in their own right. When many segments involve brutal crimes, it's nice to have something to balance it out.

Re: the Mac McDonald reunion... His obituary makes no mention of his daughter. I wonder if some other information came to light over the years since the UM segment. Maybe she really wasn't his daughter? Or perhaps she decided to disown him and in return he decided not to leave his estate to her. It's just very odd she isn't mentioned in his obituary. There is more to that story.

Alex Cooper interacting with his family in the update to his segment is extraordinarily awkward

I think of that update as a reunion because they go for the upbeat music when segueing into the update (https://youtu.be/pXgjJAymeq8?t=2135) instead of the usual keyboard drum effect :lol:

I do not know if this qualifies as making a reunion awkward, but when I saw the Jackie Dragon reunion, I could not get over how different the sisters looked from each other, and that only Jackie resembled her mom.

Anyone else notice that?

I also remember how one of the sisters did not want to give her full name, which (when compared with other reunions) seemed odd.

The reunion of Eleanor john and rose Marie was awkward. Eleanor had this look on her face when she stepped outside the front door....