I began researching my family history in the 1990s—perhaps even earlier. The exact starting point is difficult to pinpoint, as immersing oneself in historical records has a way of blurring time. What I remember clearly, however, is the thrill of locating my great-grandmother in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census. That discovery marked the beginning of a lifelong pursuit.
Since then, my research has led me through a wide range of family legends and long-held assumptions. Stories of descent from an “Indian princess” and connections to European royalty were carefully examined and ultimately disproven through diligent documentation—though some relatives remain unconvinced. In their place, I uncovered far more compelling truths: a well-known lawman killed by another officer during a drunken altercation; a relative who reportedly fell more than one hundred feet, crashing through a building without sustaining injury; a soldier believed to have died at Gettysburg who in fact survived; and even an ancestor said to have single-handedly sparked the Texas Revolution..
Beyond researching my own lineage, I have assisted dozens of individuals in uncovering their family histories. I have helped clients reconstruct ancestral narratives, identify burial locations, and even locate living relatives previously unknown to them. While our ancestors may be gone, their stories endure—preserved in records, waiting to be rediscovered.
In 2011, I joined Unclaimed Persons, a volunteer organization of genealogists who assist medical examiners, coroners, and investigators in identifying and locating next of kin for deceased individuals whose relatives are difficult to trace. This experience introduced me to forensic genealogy, a field I have continued to study and practice with dedication.
Over the years, my work has included:
- Researching and presenting a family’s history for a reunion in a format inspired by Who Do You Think You Are?, allowing participants to virtually revisit the places their ancestors once lived.
- Identifying the names and burial locations of great-grandparents who were ultimately found to be interred less than two miles from the client’s home.
- Assisting on numerous forensic genealogy cases through Unclaimed Persons.
- Documenting ancestral lines that enabled families to qualify for multiple heritage organizations.
- Correcting inaccurate migration narratives, including uncovering name changes tied to unexpected circumstances.
- Locating living descendants connected to a land purchase dating back to 1872.
- Determining that a decedent had no living relatives but had been a Cuban revolutionary hero, enabling the Cuban community to claim and honor her remains.
Throughout my work, I maintain a measured sense of humor about family history. Our ancestors were not merely names printed in black ink on aging documents; they were complex individuals who lived, laughed, struggled, and persevered. That human dimension is the history I strive to convey.
If your family history contains long-buried secrets, I will uncover them—with discretion and care. And if those discoveries happen to provide an unforgettable story for your next holiday gathering, all the better.