CINCINNATI — After more than six decades, a DNA test uncovered a family secret. It connected an Ohio woman to a man more than 500 miles away, and they say they couldn’t be happier.
What You Need To Know
- Tylin Rosser found her biological father, Thomas Williams, after a DNA test through ancestry.com
- Williams remembered he had a relationship with her mother more than 60 years ago, but didn’t know he had another daughter until now
- The father-daughter pair met for the first time on a video call and plan to keep their newfound relationship going
Tylin Rosser found old pictures with traces of what was kept secret for more than 60 years.
“I wish I would’ve been able to know the whole story,” said Rosser.
The pictures from the Philippines where she was born, show Tylin, her mom, younger brother and sister and the only father she knew.
It wasn’t until decades later, right before her father and mother passed away, that she would find out, there was someone else.
“My mother, she had dementia, right before her dementia got really bad, I asked her was my father my real biological father and she said no, and that all she remembered was his name was William,” said Rosser.
Her family got her a DNA testing kit from ancestry.com, but she said nothing ever pointed back to anyone anywhere close to Cincinnati, where she lives now.
“I just thought, there’s no way I’m going to find somebody. There’s millions and millions of Williams,” said Rosser.
Then, she got a text, followed by a video call from Huntsville, Alabama.
On the other end was Thomas Williams, her biological father.
“I’ve always thought that I had another daughter,” said Williams.
The Marine Corps veteran said he had a relationship with Tylin’s mom while he was stationed in the Philippines.
But he said he’d only seen a baby picture and heard from his friend she might be his.
“We were in the Pacific Ocean on a transport ship and he said ‘Williams,’ because everybody was called by their last name in the Marine Corps, and he said ‘this is your child here,’” said Williams.
His memories triggered another investigation into the connection, but his other daughters confirmed the connection after they too did the DNA test that showed they were a match.
“Now the tears are here because his prayers have been answered,” said his daughter, Dana Williams.
“My prayers have been answered,” said Thomas Williams.
Now 81 years old, Thomas Williams and his 62-year-old daughter, Tylin Rosser, have a newfound family to add to their own family photo book.
“It was just amazing, it makes me tear up,” Rosser said. “I’m just so happy that he is still alive and I finally get to meet him.”
