Kenneth’s search

*All names have been changed

Search goal: Find Kenneth’s biological father

Janine, who I helped last year, reached out to me last month to see if I could help out a new match of hers. Kenneth had popped up as a close match on Janine’s paternal side, which was the side I had researched for her, and Kenneth was matching Janine on his paternal side as well. There was no DNA matches Kenneth’s father that raised him, indicating an NPE (non-paternity event).

After taking a look at Kenneth’s matches, I could see that Kenneth was matching Janine and all her first cousins in the first cousin range also, though he was a generation older than them. Kenneth also matched Janine’s uncle in the close family relationship range, indicating they were likely half siblings.

At first, I was quick to assume that Kenneth’s biological father was Janine’s paternal grandfather. The DNA fit and made sense. But then, Janine reminded me that her paternal grandfather had an identical twin!

Identical twins share the same DNA, which means there would be no way to tell via DNA which Campbell twin was Kenneth’s biological father. If they both were to test (though both twins were no longer alive), both twins would be a parent match to Kenneth.

It’s a unique situation, but by comparing the twins’ lives and what was known about them (marriage date, reputation!), Janine, Kenneth and I came to the conclusion that Janine’s grandfather’s twin brother was much more likely to be Kenneth’s biological father. Kenneth is amazed at the power of DNA tests and what they can reveal!