Frances Pat Mealbach & the Dodge Dynasty - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

infinityluxe · 04-22-2020, 05:12 PM

This is one case that has always stuck with me since seeing the segment. It is arguably one of the best segments in Unsolved history. So many layers so many plot twists.

For those who don't remember Frances Pat Mealbach nee Manzer was an elderly lady who believed she was the daughter of John Dodge. She didn't learn of her adoption until she was in her late 20's when her father died. She was given a package by a cousin that contained pictures of her as a baby accompanied by another baby. When she sent off for her birth certificate it listed her as a twin. It was a tangled web and whoever was trying to cover up her existence went to great lengths to hide the truth.

Her daughter has a website where she chronicled the entire story in a much better fashion than I was able to surmise. Most of the real UM fans already know the story so I won't bore you with my sketchy recall.

What I did notice was that Pat's daughter did an update where she says she indeed has done Ancestry DNA tests and confirmed she is related to the Dodges and John Dodge's first wife Ivy. This throws the theory that Pat was the child of Matilda (second wife [ actually third Wife because John Sr. had a secret wife named Isabelle prior to marrying Matilda]).

Due to this information I am convinced that Pat was actually the grand child of John Dodge Sr. She was the child of one of John Sr. & Ivy Dodges 3 oldest children. I theorize Pat is the product of John Jr and a maid named on Pat's birth certificate as her mother. John Jr. would have been 16 at the time. It is also a possibility that one of the elder daughters could be Pat's mom as well.

Perhaps one of John's daughters may have fell pregnant out of wedlock and it was covered up by the family.

Now I am inclined to believe the twin theory to be true. John Sr. and Matilda raised John Sr.'s grand daughter Frances (1) as their own and adopted out Frances [Pat] (2) due to her being sickly. In wealthy families sickness and mental delays are grounds for embarrassment. Often times children who were sick or mentally delayed were sent away and never heard from again (think Rosemary Kennedy). The pictures Pat received included pictures of her "twin" dressed in identical clothes and in expensive strollers. I think perhaps Pat became very sick and was booted out of the family due to her illness. It seems those pictures confirm she was intended to be raised side by side with her twin until she became ill. Pat was given to the Manzer's who were a decent childless couple whose silence could be trusted and monitored being they were known to John Dodge Sr.

John Dodge had a habit of sleeping with the help. His wife Matilda was once his secretary and his second wife Isabelle also worked in his home. I'm thinking the apple didn't fall too far from the tree and a 16 year old John Jr. got their maid pregnant with twins and all hell broke loose because he was underage and the expecting mother was considered "lowly" being she was an immigrant. This maid is listed on Pat's only birth certificate. Pat did research and this woman not only existed she was listed in the census as being a domestic in the Dodge family home. This segment should have been revisited in UM. I do recall in one of the live specials Robert Stack had Pat Mealbach on and they had their phones live but nothing became of it. I think the people who truly know what happened were long dead. I can believe Frances Dodge probably had not one clue she had a twin or that her brother or sister was probably her parent.

What do you guys think?

Killarney Rose · 04-22-2020, 06:21 PM

I have always believed she was a Dodge and that the Dodge family went to great lengths to cover it up. I believe you have a good theory of what might've happened.

infinityluxe · 11-29-2020, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killarney Rose

I have always believed she was a Dodge and that the Dodge family went to great lengths to cover it up. I believe you have a good theory of what might've happened.

I think the Dodge family knew exactly who Pat was and this is why they went through so much trouble to cover things up--greed. She was a rightful heir.

Killarney Rose · 11-29-2020, 04:26 PM

I saw the Farina episode of this on The Mystery(Escape) Channel yesterday. There are definite resemblances between Pat’s family and the Dodges.

04-22-2020, 05:12 PM	#1
infinityluxe Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 31, 2020 Posts: 274	Frances Pat Mealbach & the Dodge Dynasty This is one case that has always stuck with me since seeing the segment. It is arguably one of the best segments in Unsolved history. So many layers so many plot twists. For those who don't remember Frances Pat Mealbach nee Manzer was an elderly lady who believed she was the daughter of John Dodge. She didn't learn of her adoption until she was in her late 20's when her father died. She was given a package by a cousin that contained pictures of her as a baby accompanied by another baby. When she sent off for her birth certificate it listed her as a twin. It was a tangled web and whoever was trying to cover up her existence went to great lengths to hide the truth. Her daughter has a website where she chronicled the entire story in a much better fashion than I was able to surmise. Most of the real UM fans already know the story so I won't bore you with my sketchy recall. What I did notice was that Pat's daughter did an update where she says she indeed has done Ancestry DNA tests and confirmed she is related to the Dodges and John Dodge's first wife Ivy. This throws the theory that Pat was the child of Matilda (second wife [ actually third Wife because John Sr. had a secret wife named Isabelle prior to marrying Matilda]). Due to this information I am convinced that Pat was actually the grand child of John Dodge Sr. She was the child of one of John Sr. & Ivy Dodges 3 oldest children. I theorize Pat is the product of John Jr and a maid named on Pat's birth certificate as her mother. John Jr. would have been 16 at the time. It is also a possibility that one of the elder daughters could be Pat's mom as well. Perhaps one of John's daughters may have fell pregnant out of wedlock and it was covered up by the family. Now I am inclined to believe the twin theory to be true. John Sr. and Matilda raised John Sr.'s grand daughter Frances (1) as their own and adopted out Frances [Pat] (2) due to her being sickly. In wealthy families sickness and mental delays are grounds for embarrassment. Often times children who were sick or mentally delayed were sent away and never heard from again (think Rosemary Kennedy). The pictures Pat received included pictures of her "twin" dressed in identical clothes and in expensive strollers. I think perhaps Pat became very sick and was booted out of the family due to her illness. It seems those pictures confirm she was intended to be raised side by side with her twin until she became ill. Pat was given to the Manzer's who were a decent childless couple whose silence could be trusted and monitored being they were known to John Dodge Sr. John Dodge had a habit of sleeping with the help. His wife Matilda was once his secretary and his second wife Isabelle also worked in his home. I'm thinking the apple didn't fall too far from the tree and a 16 year old John Jr. got their maid pregnant with twins and all hell broke loose because he was underage and the expecting mother was considered "lowly" being she was an immigrant. This maid is listed on Pat's only birth certificate. Pat did research and this woman not only existed she was listed in the census as being a domestic in the Dodge family home. This segment should have been revisited in UM. I do recall in one of the live specials Robert Stack had Pat Mealbach on and they had their phones live but nothing became of it. I think the people who truly know what happened were long dead. I can believe Frances Dodge probably had not one clue she had a twin or that her brother or sister was probably her parent. What do you guys think?

11-29-2020, 04:26 PM	#4
Killarney Rose Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 24, 2010 Location: AL Posts: 656	I saw the Farina episode of this on The Mystery(Escape) Channel yesterday. There are definite resemblances between Pat’s family and the Dodges.
	Last edited by Killarney Rose; 11-29-2020 at 08:20 PM.

04-22-2020, 06:21 PM	#2
Killarney Rose Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 24, 2010 Location: AL Posts: 656	I have always believed she was a Dodge and that the Dodge family went to great lengths to cover it up. I believe you have a good theory of what might've happened.