Missing kids do turn up alive. Sometimes it just takes time. For example, more than a half-century after toddler Steven Damman was snatched in New York, he apparently has surfaced, alive and well. For over fifty years, Steven's parents Jerry and Marilyn Damman wondered what happened to their 2-year-old son. Steven Damman and his sister disappeared from outside a Long Island bakery in 1955. His baby sister was found just around the corner. But Steven vanished.
John Barnes, a 56 year old Michigan man, has come forward and claims that he is the missing child previously known as Steven Damman. He claims that he has credible evidence that would link him to the missing boy. The Michigan man's identity is believed to be John Barnes. The FBI is conducting DNA testing. Preliminary DNA results did not rule out the relationship. Thus expectations are very high. Final DNA testing will either confirm the match or return the family back to square one. In the mean time, Jerry Damman is a 78 year old parent who lives in Newton, Iowa. He is anxiously awaiting confirmation that he once again has a son. Jerry and Marilyn apparently divorced in 1957. Steven had a scar on the chin and an arm fracture as a two year old. Such findings on John Barnes (if present) should have provided clues even back in the 50's.
John Barnes apparently grew up thinking he didn't look like the family that raised him. He apparently began researching missing persons cases and thus learned about the Steven Damman disappearance. He apparently has been seen by who he believes is his baby sister Pam. Pam apparently thinks he looks like her dad, Jerry. John Barnes thinks he looked like his mom when they were both 21 years old. Let's hope DNA matches and there is a happy family reunion.
Update 6-19-09: The DNA tests are back early. No happy ending on this one. DNA test results reveal that John Robert Barnes is not the Long Island, New York, boy who went missing 54 years ago. Steven Damman remains an unsolved vanishing. DNA samples from Barnes and Pam Horne (Steven Damman's sister) analyzed by the FBI Lab in Quantico, Virginia, determined that they do not share the same mother. (Does that mean they could share the same Dad? After all, it is almost Father's Day!)
7-16-09: After a moment of public attention, the case once again slips back into the cold files...
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18 comments:
If a family raised him and did not tell him that he was not their own, isn't that cruel?
Not all adopted kids are told they are adopted. This guy may not even be Damman.
Where there is smoke, there is likely fire. I am betting on a match!
Gambler
I sort of hope that it is a match, because I cannot imagine how it would feel to go through more than 50 years without knowing what happened to my child.
Looking like a match. I am hearing rumblings out of Detroit...
Vital Statistics
Date Of Birth: December 1952
Age at Time of Disappearance: 2 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 3'2"; 32 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Blonde hair; blue eyes.
Marks, Scars: Small scar under chin. Healed fracture on left arm. Molelike birthmark on back of right calf.
Medical Conditions: Steven had been under treatment for a kidney growth at the time he went missing.
Other: Footprints available
source: http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1275dmny.html
So we have a name for the Michigan man yet?
I hope its true. It will provide hope to all those with missing kids.
They don't say what made him suspect. Very interesting. One of the rare happier endings though. I hope he's been treated well, and lead a well adusted life.
He`s got a lot of `splaning to do!
I think it is him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The man claiming to be Steve Damman is John Barnes. Let's wait for the DNA results expected back in July before we jump the gun!
But it looks like a duck...
talks like a duck...
thinks it is a duck....
I'd guess it is a duck, er Damman.
Somehow, I feel disappointed. I was hoping for closure for that family. Also, wouldn't it give other families of missing people hope is Steven was found alive? It seems unlikely, though, that he is after all this time.
I really feel bad for the parents. Their hopes were raised only to be dashed again. Prayers for closure.
Update 6-19-09: The DNA tests are back early. No happy ending on this one. DNA test results reveal that John Robert Barnes is not the Long Island, New York, boy who went missing 54 years ago. Steven Damman remains an unsolved vanishing. DNA samples from Barnes and Pam Horne (Steven Damman's sister) analyzed by the FBI Lab in Quantico, Virginia, determined that they do not share the same mother. (Does that mean they could share the same Dad? After all, it is almost Father's Day!)
Nope, not even that close...
People should speak the truth. No one is perfect everyone made mistakes in their life
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