Paternity test shocks two families who believed they had found each other after decades

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan - There is a new twist in a sensational story that made international headlines about an elderly man and the long lost son he believed he had found,

Tony Trapani, 81, discovered a letter written years ago revealing a claim from a woman that he had a son that he didn’t know about. His recently deceased wife had apparently hidden the letter for years.

After meeting Samuel Childress, 61, and bonding for weeks, now a paternity test has revealed there is absolutely no chance they are actually related reported WXMI-TV.



Childress told the Michigan television station that he received the results in the mail Monday. .

“It’s kind of shocked me a little bit,” said Childress. “Instead of being 99 percent, it was zero and it kind of set me back. I mean, it’s just like a shock to me.”

The two bonded for the first time a few weeks ago when they first believed they were father and son.

Now both families are wondering why Childress’ mother sent that letter to Trapani in the first place?

“I have a little boy. He is five-years-old now,” the letter reads. “What I’m trying to say Tony is he is your son. He was born November 13th, 1953″

“That piece of paper that you know my mom sent, wrote to him that note and stuff, there’s no denying it. That part there and I just know there is a connection and he feels the same way,” said Childress.

He said he will not pursue finding his paternal father and as far as he is concerned Trapani will be the only man he calls dad.

“I call him everyday, and talking to him he says the same thing about you know, the result. He said it doesn’t matter what that says, I know you are my son,” said Childress.