CLEVELAND — We've been doing our series, "Reconnecting," since February, bringing together separated families with the help of our dedicated and official search angels, Janet Rinardo Travis and Lynette Caton Bryan, with DNANow.
But not every story has a happy ending. And sometimes, a case is so complex, you have no other option but to turn to the public.
Jeanette Messino sent us an email a few months ago regarding her sibling, Eddie. It's a story more than 60 years in the making, and a sensitive one, too.
Jeanette and her three other siblings have been searching for their brother for years. She says they've tried everything, and have always come up empty-handed.
"We've been down a lot of roads and a lot of those paths with no success," Jeanette told us.
Jeanette and her siblings, Art Mabry and Priscilla Amick, are three of six children born out of wedlock to their mother, Doris Newland. They say their mother gave all but two of her children (Priscilla included) for others to raise in Northeast Ohio. One of them, was Eddie.
"When I was adopted, my adopted parents were very honest with me, told me I was adopted, told me I had a brother Eddie, told me I had a sister Jeanette," Art told us.
Art says he grew up playing with his brother, but there was a twist:
"I was sworn to secrecy not to share with him who I really was," Art told us.
Eddie's adopted parents didn't want him to know where he came from, so keeping that kind of secret from his brother became to hard for Art.
"The last time I saw Eddie was when I came home from Vietnam. I went over to see him. And we went out, had a hot dog and root beer, and he started asking me questions (about being adopted)," Art said. "I went home that day and told my mother that I was not going back until somebody told him who I was,and it wasn't my position to tell him."
Art was just 19. He hasn't seen his brother since. In fact, he doesn't even remember Eddie's last name.
And, unfortunately, anyone who would have that information is gone.
"My parents would have that information, but they're both deceased," Art said. "It's one of those hindsight's 2020. I wish I would have asked."
Jeanette also knew of Eddie.
"I remember perhaps anywhere from four to six years old, I heard my adoptive mother on the phone and she was talking about a child. I was sort of listening and I heard her mentioned that there was another child," Jeanette recalled.
But other than his existence, Jeanette knew nothing else. And, Priscilla, who was one of the two children raised by their mother, was in the dark until 2013.
"I didn't know I had any siblings," Priscilla said. "I got a letter from Jeanette's lawyer. And it just said, 'I have been asked by a longtime client of mine to make contact with you, to determine if you would be interested in meeting certain other members of your family.'"
The siblings reunited eight years ago. And that reconnection only strengthened their will to find their brother. We put our search angels Janet and Lynette on the case. But, without a name or DNA, it may be too hard to solve. So, the siblings turned to the public in a desperate plea to find Eddie.
"Well, first of all, Eddie, if you're watching this, you probably don't know me as Art because my mother insisted that I be referred to as 'Arthur Lee,'" Art said. "When I think about Eddie, I think about the last time I saw him, I think about going out to a root beer and having the hot dog ... just to two teenage guys having a good time together. Now I'd like for two older guys to have a good time together."
"We all would love to meet you. Hopefully, one day, we can. We've all tried to find you," Priscilla said in a plea to Eddie.
"Dear brother, if you by any chance see this, know that you are greatly loved. We feel your pain. We have all been where you are," Jeanette said. "We will respect whatever your decision and your choice will be. But know that you were deeply loved."
If you have any information that can help Jeanette, Priscilla or Art, please email reconnection@wkyc.com.
More in our Reconnecting series: