"Am I a Dodge?" -- First UM ever - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Todd Mueller · 08-20-2007, 11:18 PM

I've always wondered what happened with one of the first UM cases ever. It was about the lady who claimed to be a relative of the John Dodge family (Dodge as in the car family... "That thing got a HEMI?!?") It was on the first UM special with Raymond Burr.

Later, Bob Stack did an update on it saying she was going to be able to see her adoption records and find out "once and for all" if she was a Dodge or not. Never saw anything about it again.

Searched Google tonight and found this website. It says the lady from the case is now 92 and still alive. It describes how she got jobbed and it is a very interesting read.

If the Dodge's had nothing to hide, why are they screwing with this poor woman so bad? I think she is legit.

(Sorry if this has been posted before.)

kamy · 08-31-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Mueller

I've always wondered what happened with one of the first UM cases ever. It was about the lady who claimed to be a relative of the John Dodge family (Dodge as in the car family... "That thing got a HEMI?!?") It was on the first UM special with Raymond Burr.

Later, Bob Stack did an update on it saying she was going to be able to see her adoption records and find out "once and for all" if she was a Dodge or not. Never saw anything about it again.

Searched Google tonight and found this website. It says the lady from the case is now 92 and still alive. It describes how she got jobbed and it is a very interesting read.

If the Dodge's had nothing to hide, why are they screwing with this poor woman so bad? I think she is legit.

(Sorry if this has been posted before.)

Interesting, has anyone heard anything? Hell, I'm adopted, maybe I'm a Dodge too!!!!!!

crystaldawn · 08-31-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd Mueller

I've always wondered what happened with one of the first UM cases ever. It was about the lady who claimed to be a relative of the John Dodge family (Dodge as in the car family... "That thing got a HEMI?!?") It was on the first UM special with Raymond Burr.

Later, Bob Stack did an update on it saying she was going to be able to see her adoption records and find out "once and for all" if she was a Dodge or not. Never saw anything about it again.

Searched Google tonight and found this website. It says the lady from the case is now 92 and still alive. It describes how she got jobbed and it is a very interesting read.

If the Dodge's had nothing to hide, why are they screwing with this poor woman so bad? I think she is legit.

(Sorry if this has been posted before.)

I have the book about the Dodge's and "Pat Mealbach's" claims and its very interesting. Suprising note that according to the book that wasn't even her name and she wasn't referred to by that name one time in the book. They did a little followup at the end of the book and said that her adoption records had clearly been doctored with some wrong info and notable erasure marks so it really didn't clear anything up at all. With dna testing though today I'm sure all it would take was a test of that compared with a known Dodge family member to confirm or deny her claim. Personally I definitely think she is a Dodge.

LooksLikeCRicci · 09-02-2007, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamy

Hell, I'm adopted, maybe I'm a Dodge too!!!!!!

Hey, me, too!

Todd Mueller · 09-02-2007, 08:36 AM

I think this case bothered me for three reasons:

1.) It is so obvious that her past has been doctored and that people are keeping info from her.

2.) There is SO MUCH evidence showing she probably is a Dodge.

3.) The Dodge family has gone so far out of their way to not help.

I guess I don't get that. So what if she was a long, lost relative? Like they don't have enough money to go around. The poor woman has no idea of her real past, you could give her that much at least.

I think the other part that always bugged me was that this was literally on the first UM program and never got solved (or resolved). It is that tough of a case, so obviously the Dodge's are throwing roadblocks in the way.

crystaldawn · 09-02-2007, 08:53 AM

The books seems to give even more evidence that she was a Dodge. I have mentioned this before on the board but one part that was almost humorous was when the Dodge daughter Frances (probably Pat's sister) passed away and her daughter and husband were arguing about her estate a servant claimed to have overheard Frances' daughter saying something along the lines of "you won't get a penny of the money, I'll give it to her twin before I let you have it." Another scenario that was mentioned in the book although I think its pretty farfetched was that John Dodge's sister-in-law (who seemed to be quite smiiten with him) got pregnant by him and that child ended up being Pat Mealbach. Like I said quite farfetched in my opinion but interesting nonetheless.

kamy · 06-11-2009, 05:09 PM

Well...much to my dismay I have recently found my birth mother, and no, I am not a Dodge!

Anyhoo, found this article, stating that Pat Mealbach died earlier this year in Florida. Too bad, it doesn't seem that she got any closure on this side.
http://www.squidoo.com/tangledweb
Sorry if I'm not allowed to post this, don't know of any other way too!

Anybody hear anything else? Apparently, a DNA test was done. See below:

"Early on in court proceedings, one of the attorneys representing one of the Dodge grandchildren, requested that I submit to DNA testing. I quess they felt this could once and for all ascertain if I were actually of the Dodge blood line, and settle my paternity once and for all? I agreed to the testing, against my attorneys advice, and complied with the request. I had samples of hair, and blood taken at the University Of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor Michigan. The tests being witnessed by a variety of people, to include the attorney that requested the DNA test, my daughter, and author Jean Pitrone.

The results were never used in court, and I have never been able to obtain the results. The University Of Michigan hospital claiming the results were no longer on file, that they had been lost? The hospital admits a file folder was found, but it was found to be empty. The fact that the results were not used against me in court, leads me to believe the test results were in my favor, and gave conclusive DNA evidence that I was the daughter of John Dodge. I could not possibly afford to request DNA testing be done on my behalf. Plus, I am sure if one of the Dodge families would have cooperated, as I did, with a donor sample from their side of the gene pool?"

Hmmm, very interesting.....

MissFit29 · 06-11-2009, 05:52 PM

With the state that company is in, it's not like she would have gotten any money! It's too bad she never got the definitive answer on her family origins.

marlins3 · 06-11-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissFit29

With the state that company is in, it's not like she would have gotten any money! It's too bad she never got the definitive answer on her family origins.

Please explain why you say this. The money she would get would be from the estate of John Dodge, NOT Dodge Motor company. John Dodge owned Dodge motors but money from his personal estate would be kept very seperate from the corporation.

MissFit29 · 06-12-2009, 12:35 AM

I was being snarky about current economic concerns in the business world.

I don't remember ever seeing this case. Did they ever show it on Lifetime?

crystaldawn · 06-12-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissFit29

I don't remember ever seeing this case. Did they ever show it on Lifetime?

I don't believe so but I think Spike may have shown it.

crochetbuff · 06-12-2009, 10:53 AM

I think there is another more recently posted to thread on this case. I know I posted to it after reading the book. Good book BTW!

Frances never did get any closure. I too think the the "missing" DNA results point to her being a Dodge daughter, if the results had been negative, IMO the Dodge side would have run to the court and the media, waving them high.

crochetbuff · 06-12-2009, 10:55 AM

Here's the older thread:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...light=mealbach

08-20-2007, 11:18 PM	#1
Todd Mueller Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Posts: 1,626	"Am I a Dodge?" -- First UM ever I've always wondered what happened with one of the first UM cases ever. It was about the lady who claimed to be a relative of the John Dodge family (Dodge as in the car family... "That thing got a HEMI?!?") It was on the first UM special with Raymond Burr. Later, Bob Stack did an update on it saying she was going to be able to see her adoption records and find out "once and for all" if she was a Dodge or not. Never saw anything about it again. Searched Google tonight and found this website. It says the lady from the case is now 92 and still alive. It describes how she got jobbed and it is a very interesting read. If the Dodge's had nothing to hide, why are they screwing with this poor woman so bad? I think she is legit. (Sorry if this has been posted before.)

09-02-2007, 08:36 AM	#5
Todd Mueller Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Posts: 1,626	I think this case bothered me for three reasons: 1.) It is so obvious that her past has been doctored and that people are keeping info from her. 2.) There is SO MUCH evidence showing she probably is a Dodge. 3.) The Dodge family has gone so far out of their way to not help. I guess I don't get that. So what if she was a long, lost relative? Like they don't have enough money to go around. The poor woman has no idea of her real past, you could give her that much at least. I think the other part that always bugged me was that this was literally on the first UM program and never got solved (or resolved). It is that tough of a case, so obviously the Dodge's are throwing roadblocks in the way.

09-02-2007, 08:53 AM	#6
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	The books seems to give even more evidence that she was a Dodge. I have mentioned this before on the board but one part that was almost humorous was when the Dodge daughter Frances (probably Pat's sister) passed away and her daughter and husband were arguing about her estate a servant claimed to have overheard Frances' daughter saying something along the lines of "you won't get a penny of the money, I'll give it to her twin before I let you have it." Another scenario that was mentioned in the book although I think its pretty farfetched was that John Dodge's sister-in-law (who seemed to be quite smiiten with him) got pregnant by him and that child ended up being Pat Mealbach. Like I said quite farfetched in my opinion but interesting nonetheless.

06-11-2009, 05:09 PM	#7
kamy UM Fanatic Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 25, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 625	Well...much to my dismay I have recently found my birth mother, and no, I am not a Dodge! Anyhoo, found this article, stating that Pat Mealbach died earlier this year in Florida. Too bad, it doesn't seem that she got any closure on this side. http://www.squidoo.com/tangledweb Sorry if I'm not allowed to post this, don't know of any other way too! Anybody hear anything else? Apparently, a DNA test was done. See below: "Early on in court proceedings, one of the attorneys representing one of the Dodge grandchildren, requested that I submit to DNA testing. I quess they felt this could once and for all ascertain if I were actually of the Dodge blood line, and settle my paternity once and for all? I agreed to the testing, against my attorneys advice, and complied with the request. I had samples of hair, and blood taken at the University Of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor Michigan. The tests being witnessed by a variety of people, to include the attorney that requested the DNA test, my daughter, and author Jean Pitrone. The results were never used in court, and I have never been able to obtain the results. The University Of Michigan hospital claiming the results were no longer on file, that they had been lost? The hospital admits a file folder was found, but it was found to be empty. The fact that the results were not used against me in court, leads me to believe the test results were in my favor, and gave conclusive DNA evidence that I was the daughter of John Dodge. I could not possibly afford to request DNA testing be done on my behalf. Plus, I am sure if one of the Dodge families would have cooperated, as I did, with a donor sample from their side of the gene pool?" Hmmm, very interesting.....

06-11-2009, 05:52 PM	#8
MissFit29 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 526	With the state that company is in, it's not like she would have gotten any money! It's too bad she never got the definitive answer on her family origins.

06-12-2009, 12:35 AM	#10
MissFit29 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 526	I was being snarky about current economic concerns in the business world. I don't remember ever seeing this case. Did they ever show it on Lifetime?

06-12-2009, 10:53 AM	#12
crochetbuff Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 16, 2007 Location: USA Posts: 545	I think there is another more recently posted to thread on this case. I know I posted to it after reading the book. Good book BTW! Frances never did get any closure. I too think the the "missing" DNA results point to her being a Dodge daughter, if the results had been negative, IMO the Dodge side would have run to the court and the media, waving them high.

06-12-2009, 10:55 AM	#13
crochetbuff Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 16, 2007 Location: USA Posts: 545	Here's the older thread: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...light=mealbach