Separated Since Birth, Now We Might Be Sisters?! | KARAMO

So when did you first hear about the alleged sister? Was it 2 years ago exactly?

Yeah, so it was 2 years ago. So she reached out to me on Facebook Messenger. I'm like, who's this stranger, you know? And she said that she thinks we potentially share the same biological father.

Is this the message? Can I ask you a question? I've done the Ancestry DNA. I'm trying to figure out my roots and reach out to any family members who may be mine.

And you said, "Yes, that's my dad." Yes, and before I sent that message back to her, I like, of course, you know, it's a stranger, so I went on her Facebook, looked at pictures.

Yeah.

And then once I got to those baby photos, I was like, "Wait, is this me?" Oh wow. Yeah.

'Cause y'all look that much alike.

Yeah.

Oh wow.

Yeah.

Oh yeah, you see it. How did you feel when you got that message?

It was exciting for me, but then it was also like a mix of emotions, like, confused, you know, like—

Yeah, of course.

Pretty much I felt like I was lied to my whole life, you know, if this was really true. And once I called my family, they turned down the situation. They said, you know, we did a court DNA test when she was around 6 months old and that is not your sister.

So assuming, 'cause we're here, you decided to meet her.

Yeah.

So you said, let me ignore what they're saying, I wanna meet her.

Yeah.

So what happened when you finally met?

It was so weird. Like, it was like, you know, she brought her son and daughter and her husband. And when they came to my house, it was like, wait, I know you, right? Like, it wasn't like it was my stranger, like a stranger to me.

And that was your first time meeting? How many times did y'all talk on the phone?

Before that, not, I don't, maybe like once or twice.

And the minute she walked in your house, you felt like this is—

Yeah, it was weird. Like an instant bond. And then she purchased that, Amazon DNA test. So we did the swabs and we sent them in. And then it came back a couple weeks later that she was my sister. So of course, you know, yeah. So of course I ended up calling my family and that's when all the drama started. And because what if this is, you know, my sister?

So even though you're saying you did your own at-home DNA, they still didn't believe it and continued to deny her.

Yeah. Another thing too though is it was an Amazon DNA test. So how, I think I'll always have that question in my mind, like, was it accurate?

I mean, you're not alone. A lot of people, they end up coming here because of the accuracy sometimes of mailing those tests in.

Yeah.

And the unfortunate part, the unfortunate part we've had is several times on this show where people have mailed that in and then they come back and we do one here through the proper channels and then it finds out they're not siblings.

Yeah.

So you had that.

Yeah, and another thing too is, you know, the name calling and me being told I don't have a right to know if this is my sister or not. That's where it really hurt me.

Yeah, of course. I'm sorry that you had experienced that.

Yeah.

And so I'm assuming your family is still claiming they took the court DNA test and the court DNA test says she is not your sibling and that's what they're sticking on.

Yes, and that was like what, like 30 years ago? Technology changes.

Got it.

If that is true.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I mean, but it's definitely caused a lot of hurt, a lot of pain. Of course, of course, I'm sorry. It's been really hard to deal with.

Have you seen each other since?

So it's been a year and a half or 2 years since we've seen each other.

Wow, yeah, 'cause y'all only know each other 2 years, so there was not really a lot of time for y'all to bond. Yeah. Let me be clear about this. So this, you two would have the same potential father?

Yes.

And was your mother with your father when, she was conceived?

I believe so. They were kids.

They were kids.

Yeah.

Okay, okay. I'm just, I'm trying to get context of like why it would be so much anger from both. Do you think she is your sister?

I look at those photos and then I look at the bond that we have created as well. And I do believe she is my sister. Yeah.

And if she is your sister, do you wanna have that relationship? I know that that year and a half, almost 2 years has gone.

I'm so tired of putting, everyone's feelings above my own. It's time for me to put myself first and I do want that bond. And if she is my sister, they can't accept it, they don't need to be in my life.

Got it. So I gotta ask you this, what will you do if she is not your sister?

If she is not my sister, then I guess I gained a best friend.

That's beautiful. Well, let's meet your alleged sister Angie and hear her side of the story. So everyone please welcome Angie to the show. Karamo for us.

Hi.

Hi, thank you so much. Thank you for being here.

I'm supposed to tell you from your fans back home, you have very polished hands.

Oh, thank you. I appreciate that. Well, listen, when did you first find out about Marissa?

So I actually reached out to my potential family on her side and I was originally pushed away in 2015. And it wasn't until I did a genealogy test that it came back that I shared the same DNA with her family. So I went on Facebook and I decided to look up my potential family on that site, anybody that I could reach out to, and Marissa popped up. She also had photos with potential people that I was related to. And so I decided to reach out to her with a text message.

You received that message from her family. I wanna take a look at it 'cause you brought that for us. Yeah. Can I see this? This is 2015.

Right.

And so they're letting you know that they did the blood work already and that he's not your father, somebody else is. And they gave you a name.

Right, yeah. And unfortunately, you know, growing up adopted, when I reached out and she brushed me off the first time, and it wasn't until like 2022 when I did a genealogy test from my adopted sister again, matches popped up of being related to Marissa's side. So that's why I reached out to her, 'cause I'm like, something is not, the math is not mathin' here, you know? Yeah, something's not mathin'.

And how old were you when you reached out?

So in 2015, I think, had to be around 18 or 19 years old.

18, yeah.

Yeah, I was 18 years old.

So you're just a baby looking for answers.

Just a baby looking for answers. Like I said, you know, I was put in the system at 6 months old and officially adopted at 5 years old. So I really didn't get a chance to find out anything about who I am.

But the crazy thing is, is we went to the same high school.

You two? Really?

Yes. Same high school.

Same high school. Like, she used to see me around.

She has mutual friends on Facebook.

Wow.

Like, so many.

It's so crazy. 'Cause how many years are y'all apart?

I'm 33. So how old are you?

I'm about to be 31.

Oh yeah.

Oh, so 2 years apart. So yeah, y'all were walking the hallways together.

Walking the hallways together.

No idea. Yeah, lived in the same place our whole life too.

That's wild. I gotta go back to this because this is like really interesting to me. In that message, they gave you another name. Did you ever reach out to that other name of who they said?

I reached out.

'Cause it says they said there, this could be your father.

Yes, I did. I actually reached out to some of the family on that side too. They said they were gonna get back to me, blah, blah, blah.

But nothing happened.

Nothing happened.

Marissa, did you know that your family gave her another name of who her father could be?

I did.

You did know?

Yeah, I did. I reached out to some people as well that knew of that person and they let me know that, yeah, that's—

Yeah.

They had no idea about that.

But it does bring up questions because if they're saying we took a court-ordered DNA test with blood work and then now I'm giving you another name, I could understand why there's this doubt shrouded in this. It makes sense. Yeah.

Right, but when I asked for proof, My adoptive mom kept all my paperwork. I went through it and I didn't just pull her family's name out of a hat. Like it was, those were the clues that were left behind for me. And his signature was on the paperwork.

Oh wow.

So that's why I had a starting clue to even, like even my birth certificate, my legal birth certificate before I was officially adopted and given my other name was her last side's name on there.

Oh wow.

And I know anybody can put anybody's name on it.

No, but still.

I know that, but again, I'm here me here to, I have to put this puzzle together. No one's gonna help me. Nobody wants me to do this. And we're here today as repercussions of adults not being able to tell us the truth. You know?

[Speaker] You better speak on it. You better speak the truth.

[Speaker] She's not asking for a relationship. We want that bond. But let's say I didn't want that bond. She would not push it on me.

[Speaker] I wouldn't. I told her straight up. And some of the messages I had told her straight up. I was like, look, I had a good mom, I had a good dad, I still have a good life today because of them. I was all like, I owe everything to my parents that adopted me. I owe everything to them. And I owe nothing to these people. You know, DNA, growing up adopted with no one having your blood, blood is only skin deep. At some point in your life you realize that. The loyalty, the unconditional love, everything that I felt Being adopted by the people who adopted me, like, no one can replace that. And I let her know that. I was like, I'm not coming here to step on anybody's toes. I don't want a relationship with anybody who doesn't want a relationship with me. I just want answers.

Yeah. Can we all take a moment just to shout out all the adoptive parents out there? Like, come on. Because like, seriously, that is what you just said about like someone showing you the unconditional love, showing up for you. Like, we gotta shout out to adoptive parents out there who say, you know what, I see this child, I wanna be there for them. And sometimes when we talk about taking away people's rights to decide, we also gotta remember that when a child is here, then nobody wants to do anything about it. And someone who worked in social services, I used to see that all the time. And I used to sit in front of children all the time who were like, well, I'm here now, who's gonna love me, who's gonna support me? So I'm thankful, I'm thankful for your adoptive parents who said I'm gonna be there for you. If it is turned out that this is your sister, which means that is your family, would you be open to having a relationship with them if they apologize?

I don't think so. I don't think this is much that we can come back from because I need to heal and—

And I've seen her pure heart, that's why. I'm over it.

I am ready to stand on business. I am gonna do me. Like, no more.

Okay, I'm gonna ask you this. I'm gonna ask you this 'cause I asked her this. We do know, we see the clouds of doubt. We understand they said the DNA test was taken in the courts.

Yes.

And that's not your sibling. If you find out today that she's not your sister.

I would still have a bond with her. I mean, I think that we have already gone through a lot in such a short amount of time. I would say we'd at least still stay friends.

Got it, yeah, okay, good. Well listen, you have waited your entire life for the DNA truth and I think it's time to give you those answers.

Are you ready? I'm so nervous.

I'm so nervous.

Angie, in this envelope is a DNA test the truth that you have been waiting for. You have been on your own search since the age of 18. You have found someone that you've connected with and feel as if this is your sister, but yet there have still been unanswers. Is this, is this not? It is time for you to know the truth. This is not my truth to open, this is yours. So here you go.

I just wanna say before we open this, regardless of what happens, me and you are good, always. I think me and you deserve this. More than anything, and I think you, I want you to heal because everybody in your life has told you that this isn't real. And today you need to own it. There should be no more doubt in your mind that this is real. And anybody else, this is going out for all of you, you know, you can kick rocks if you don't like it 'cause we're gonna be like this.

Yeah. And one more thing, I will not let any of you I don't want to hear anyone talk about my niece, nephew, sister, anyone.

Period.

Ever.

I know. It's done.

Oh my gosh, are you ready?

Let's give each other a hug first.

Okay.

All right, you ready, Karamo?

I'm ready.

You guys ready? Yeah, let's do this. Angie Marissa is your biological sister! I knew it.

I knew it. Congratulations.

Obviously.

I told you.

Congratulations. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

I met both of your partners before we started this show and they're such lovely people and I'm so excited. I saw them in the audience. They're out there cheering right now. I know y'all happy. I see y'all. You're happy. I'm happy. I'm so happy. Because as you said, you deserve this. You stayed true to yourself. You all said it's time for us to get our answers and now you have them. And I'm so happy for you. Our hearts are full for you both, seriously.

Thank you so much.

And also what you said before, now you get to go back to these people and say, this is my sister.

I finally get to be that little annoying sister I've always wanted to be.