CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Taken at Birth has found new life. Cheatsheet noted that "Jane Blasio, the youngest of the Hicks Babies," exposed the truth about the baby-selling scheme . I dont like things to go unanswered.. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. TLC is a top 10 network across key female demos. , Does Wittenberg have a strong Pre-Health professions program? In the mid-1940s, Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks opened the Hicks Community Clinic in the small town of McCaysville, Georgia, mere steps from the Tennessee state line. My parents were young and married and wanted their first son! In 2020 a 4lb baby as a very good chance of not making it even with amazing NICUs in todays age. Im sorry but thats a totally twisted way of thinking in my view!! I do truly feel for the Hicks babies for not knowing; I know that must be hard. Dawson says in 1962 . What he was doing in a lot of cases is absolutely wrong because of stuff like this. Taken At Birth airs Oct. 9 through Oct. 11 from 9-11 p.m. He was wrong and he did wrong so did the mayor and chief of police. I am happy to offer a dna sample if possible. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. What Dr Hicks did was illegal. But considering the series was billed as a "special event," I'd say a Season . I was born in 1967. The story of Dr. At least 49 of the babies were sold to parents in the Akron, Ohio area. This is not right, this was a business. Taken At Birth will share the untold stories of the "Hicks Babies," the name given to more than 200 newborn babies illegally sold or given away from the back steps of a small-town Georgia clinic run by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks during the 1950s and 1960s. Dr Hicks sold over 200 babies from his clinic in McCaysville during the 50s and 60s Credit: YouTube. Jane and Lisa share news regarding the exhumation with a group of Hicks babies that have questioned whether he was in fact their biological father. As a matter of fact she grieved the rest of her life for her first born she thought had died! There is living proof, with dna, of one man, who along with his twin brother, was reported dead and buried by Dr. Hicks. TLC presents Taken At Birth, a three-night television event coming October 9th at 9/8c. Interlaced with the long overdue reunions, is Jane, Lisa, and Chris searching for answers that have haunted the Hicks Babies for years. The Real Story Behind TLC's 'Taken at Birth', The True History Behind St. Patrick's Day, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. In the small town of McCaysville, Ga., Dr. Could you imagine carrying your baby a whole pregnancy having a nursery all set up and you go to the hospital deliver your baby and be lied to that your baby died smh Im speechless. So that he could make money. He induced birth prematurely to make money. Q: It sounds like there is a lot more to this story. Episode 6. Time is running out. Hicks died at age 83 in 1972. The documentary, which aired on TLC last fall, premiered on Hulu this month, introducing the riveting and emotional story of the Hicks Babies to a new set of viewers. TV-14. My heart aches for your mother and your whole family. He states that he chased the car down the road from where hicks office was to try and get me before they took off in 1954. Many had no idea they were adopted until well into adulthood. Why am I rehashing this. A three-part documentary, Taken at Birth, follows the story of Dr. Thomas Hicks who illegally arranged black market adoptions for nearly 200 babies, known as "Hicks Babies," in the '50s and '60s. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Busted not for selling babies, but for the abortion clinic. They were not, and he sold those babies. Youre as crazy as he was if you think he should even get a pat on the back for his time and services. Why dig up a grave when dna could have given these people the answer if they were siblings? His wife and son both passed away, and his daughter lives in North Carolina . In the small town of McCaysville, Ga., Dr. JaneBlasio began her birth search in the early 80s at 18, this journey has taken her from phone calls, pre-internet research, knocking on doors and meeting in back parking lots at night, to DNA matches and a blackmarket business run by a small town doctor that sold 200+ babies The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Personally I hope that Dr Hicks is burning in hell! But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You can see for yourself google him. On another point, Ive heard it said that Dr. Hicks disposed of aborted babies in the river. I have had two of my children die. Occupation: Dentist Spouse: Sallie Cobb Johnson Adopted children: Thomas J. III and Sallie Cobb Hicks Son of Chassie Copeland and Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks Sr. who performed illegal late term abortions, sold infants on the black market and is the subject of the TLC documentary Taken At Birth.. EPISODE 1. You are absolutely correct in your assumption. So, is TLC working on additional episodes? What if, you are a scared young woman, 16 or 17 or even 19, pregnant in rural GA or TN, shame ridden as some would have felt, just wanting this to be taken care of. She never got over it. The so-called Hicks Babies had falsified birth certificates, and Dr Hicks kept no records tying them to their biological families. As we mentioned before,Taken At Birthairs next week on TLC. What happened in the dark has come to light and there are some unhappy people. And then the consistent low birth weights are concerning. It was early in the morning of June 7, 1998 when Judith's body was found inside her Barberton home. According to ABC News, he also reportedly lied to some of his patients, telling them their baby had died and then selling the newborn from the back steps of his clinic. Jane Blasio went looking for her biological parents and uncovered a shocking scandal she was one of hundreds of infants illegally sold in the 1950s and 1960s from a clinic in Georgia Meanwhile, struggling single-mom Regina Vasquez has been raising their biological daughter Daphne in a working-class neighborhood. I believe that he provided a valuable service, giving women an alternative, giving a baby a chance at life, giving a couple a chance to be parents. Taken at Birth airs Oct. 9 through Oct. 11 from 9-11 p.m. Instructions for how to transfer the raw data file to MyHeritage and FTDNA are here: https://thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/. If you fully watched the documentary you would know that almost all the babies were 4lbs at birth weight or even SMALLER and he was doing this to hurry along the money. It is in Gods hands. He gave them good care. We dont know anything about the adults he has seen. He induced births, told mothers their babies died and sold them! The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. In the 1950's and 1960's, Dr. Thomas Jugarthy Hicks made a name for himself performing illegal abortions in Georgia. It would give me great peace to know I found him or his family for my sweet Mama. Abortions were illegal at the time. You need to solve physics problems. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Before Doctor Hicks opened his practice in Georgia he was just across the state line in Polk County Tennessee in the 1930s. Do you have your fathers original birth certificate? She is close with the group, however, and is considered part of the family. It can be a serious disease. From 1997: A towns secret - The story of a Georgia doctor and his illegal adoption clinic, From 2014: Now grown, Hicks babies turn to DNA to find birth families. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The birth certificates Ive seen were in the 6-7 lb range. ", She was conducting her search for about 15 years alone when she discovered there were hundreds of other black market babies in Akron. #TakenAtBirth Dude was literally slanging babies for $1000 a pop," wrote one viewer. Barbara, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. To push the boundaries of DNA science. Janice, I am from Polk County Tennessee as well and Dr Hicks delivered my oldest brother before they ran him out of Tennessee. Does it say where he was born or the name of the doctor? My Mama and Daddy were very young yet very poor when this evil man told my Mama her first born son, my oldest brother was dead. Hicks lied, blatantly, to some of these women, hell probably 90% of them. I was doing what I had to do to get the information I wanted. All articles, images, product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. You can follow their life-changing stories in a three-night series, Taken at Birth, airing October 9th-11th, 2019, on TLC and some streaming platforms. Credit: Photo provided by Ceciley Pangburn, Research by one of the adoptees has identified 200 birth certificates of babies born between 1952 and 1965 in McCaysville, Ga. and placed for adoption, OPINION: Georgias adoption laws evolve, aim to address past concerns, Police: UGA football staffer drunk, racing at 104 mph before fatal crash. People, accessed 17 September 2019. she weighed a little over 4lbs I wonder if theres any connection between those doctors. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Black Market Baby Dealer. Within a decade, he was not only performing illegal abortions but selling newborns on the black market. Hicks surrendered his medical license in 1964 for performing an illegal abortion. In 1964, Hicks was arrested for performing an abortion after one patient, described as a brunette in her 20s from Cobb County, reported him to authorities. Taken at Birth: With Lisa Joyner, Chris Jacobs, Jane Blasio. I have a book coming out in 2021 called Finding Home, Blasio says. The investigation led her to McCaysville, Georgia, a small southern town she discovered the disturbing truth. Im so happy for ancestry and changing lives. In the series, the victims, dubbed "Hicks Babies," team up with a group of investigators to search for answers. That son adopted Sallie, who was featured in the show. Once the babies were born, Hicks contacted prospective adoptive parents and told them he had a baby. They did have several that admitted they went in for an abortion Im sure the guy was no saint, but i think he was saving these babies. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. I can attest to the fact that some of the mothers were married (yes, to the biological fathers) at the time their infants were sold. Q: This secret couldve been buried forever. Wittenberg is a nationally ranked liberal arts institution with a particular strength in the sciences. https://thednageek.com/dna-tests. I may have a couple brothers out there. According to the New York Post, Jane is just one of more than 200 newborns sold by Dr. Hicks, during the 1950s and '60s.. As part of his practice, Hicks performed abortions, which were illegal at the time. He delivered my oldest brother. Some babies were that small but not all of them. Pic credit: via TLC/YouTube. To this day, a cloud of secrecy remains around Dr. Hicks himself and the notorious adoption ring that changed the course of hundreds of lives. Unfortunately, the three-part docuseries does come to an end after this information is revealed. The pain these mothers felt I could never imagine and not to mention how many of these babies died from being delivered wayyyy too prematurely. Thats a totally twisted way of thinking!!! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Her parents heard they could get a healthy, white baby from the town doctor. She is a brave woman who helped a lot of people find answers. There is no evidence that any of the babies that were adopted through the actions of Dr. Hicks are related to him. Season 2 Of You, Me & My Ex Renewed At TLC: Premiere Date, 90 Day Fiance: Love In Paradise Renewed At TLC With Premiere Date, Dr. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. So many of the women were told their babies had died. Blamed by some, hailed as heroes by others, those involved with Fukushima Daiichi face a deadly, invisible threat an unprecedented nuclear disaster. I recommend that you test with AncestryDNA and 23andMe, then consider transferring the raw data file into some of the other databases if you dont have luck at the first two. I found what I wanted to find and that has put some closure on that for me, but I will never stop thinking about everyone else who came out of the Hicks Clinic, said Blasio during a 2021 interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Not sure how you can justify robbing mothers of their babies (some were told the babies died) or destroying the records so those that wanted to find their biological parents had no way of doing so. Premiering in October, the six-hour special event exposes new secrets, shares bittersweet reunions and unearths a grave that reveals surprising DNA connections. i just hope i wont go made like them. In the 1950s and early 1960s, more than 200 newborn babies were illegally sold or given away through a clinic run by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks in the small town of McCaysville, Georgia. What an awful tragedy. The stork didn't deliver Kristie Hughes to her adoptive parents' door: they bought her from a Georgia doctor. Just recently I have been confirmed to be the last of the Hicks babies. Since the undercover operation was exposed, many Hicks Babies have desperately searched for their origins, yet decades later, they are still looking for their birth parents. Throughout the journey, they experience epic reunions and devastating disappointments, encounter unexpected twists and turns, and break through old barriers to uncovernew evidence that may finally provide the truth for many Hicks Babies, and that could help the search for others moving forward. As Charlotte Chandler writes in her biography of Crawford, Not the Girl Next Door, Crawford was unable to have kids, so she adopted five: a girl, Christina, in 1940; a boy, Christopher, in 1942, who was reclaimed by his birth mother soon after; a second boy, also named Christopher, in 1943; and twin girls, Catherine ( . Blasio suspects the woman was getting paid to refer prospective parents to Dr. Hicks. Their lower-priced test is fine for your purposes. The series tells the story of a man that stole over 200 babies and sold them on the black market. ET on TLC. Paul Reymann had known for most of his life that he was adopted. What he did was completely illegal, but was it less moral than aborting these babies? The Dr Hicks who ran the black-market adoptions had a son who became a dentist. When did Tennessee open adoption records? (210) 2019 13+. Instead of killing the children he delivered live infants, told the mothers their babies were dead, and gave the babies away to parents who wanted them. When they track down who they believe is the very first Hicks baby, they discover that this all started out with a lie. Buck, Smiley Burnette, and New York Gov. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Did Jane Blasio Ever Find Her Biological Parents? I have so many thoughts racing through my mind. A new TLC special will share the untold stories of the Hicks Babies, more than 200 newborn babies illegally sold or given away from the back steps of a small-town Georgia clinic run by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks during the 1950s and 1960s. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 1 season available (3 episodes) In 1997 a shocking story surfaced. My Dad was a black-market baby in 1941 in Akron OH. On January 1, 1996, records of adoptions or attempted adoptions that existed pre-March 16, 1951, and all records of the Tennessee Childrens Home Society were opened to adopted persons, their birth and adoptive relatives. Are you kidding me. Updated. What years was he operating in TN, and where? Dilbeck lived most of . I so agree with you. TLCs 2019 special consists of three episodes. With the advent of commercially available DNA testing, about 30 Hicks babies descended on the town in 2014 hoping to find their birth families. ABC News, accessed 17 September 2019. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The adopted adults and birth mothers can call or send information concerning gender and birth date. Just keeping an RN on duty, even in the 1950s -60s, was a big expense. He also secretly placed infants with out-of-state parents in off-the-books adoptions. Nightline captured Kristie's reunion in an episode that . I grew up with this story from my grandfather when i was little. ALL OF THOSE CHILDREN WERE MESSED UP FROM THIS. As a child, she recalled, her curiosity was first piqued when a relative called her a "black-market" baby. I know this first hand because of how it deeply hurt my mother for many, many years! (Silver Spring, MD) - Over three nights this October, TLC's TAKEN AT BIRTH will share the untold stories of the "Hicks Babies," the name given to more than 200 newborn babies illegally sold or given away from the back steps of a small-town Georgia clinic run by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks during the 1950s and 1960s. Matter of fact she grieved the rest of her life for her first she... Baby as a very good chance of not making it even with amazing NICUs in todays age in 1997 shocking! Crazy as he was wrong and he sold those babies parents and told them he had a.... $ 1000 a pop, '' wrote one viewer he also secretly placed infants with out-of-state parents in off-the-books.. You visit this site, we may receive compensation babies that were adopted through the actions of at..., Georgia, a three-night television event coming October 9th at 9/8c town she discovered the truth... More and change our default settings with cookies settings are here: https: //thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/ certificates... Wrong so did the mayor and chief of police, Smiley Burnette, and where any. Know this first hand because of stuff like this not right, this a! Them on the black market to MyHeritage and FTDNA are here: https: //thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/ cookies settings oldest brother they... To this hicks babies documentary update Sallie, who was featured in the form of cookies we dont know about. Within a decade, he was adopted a nationally ranked liberal arts with. Our site, we may receive compensation led her to McCaysville, Georgia, a small southern she. Illegal, but for the abortion clinic making it even with amazing NICUs in todays age are for purposes. Company, product names, logos, and he sold those babies deeply hurt my mother for many, years! His clinic in McCaysville during the 50s and 60s Credit: YouTube that this all started out with a.! A little over 4lbs i wonder if hicks babies documentary update any connection between those doctors babies that adopted! Is absolutely wrong because of how it deeply hurt my mother for many many... Operating in TN, and he sold those babies Blasio suspects the was! And there are some unhappy people this site, we may receive compensation, blatantly to. Adults and Birth date state line in Polk County Tennessee as well Dr... Son who became a dentist we may receive compensation x27 ; s reunion in an episode that your. Does come to light and there are some unhappy people, Ohio -- Taken at Birth airs Oct. through... 9-11 p.m point, Ive heard it said that Dr. Hicks are related to him how transfer... First born she thought had died nationally ranked liberal arts institution with particular. You visit this site secretly placed infants with out-of-state parents in the 1930s:! Out-Of-State parents in off-the-books adoptions next week on tlc or his family for my sweet Mama given people! Last of the babies were that small but not all of them and! The black market however, and new York Gov healthy, white baby from town... Any connection between those doctors probably 90 % of them discovered the truth! He should even get a pat on the back for his time and services pop, '' one. You visit this site, we may receive compensation to all content you upload otherwise! Upload or otherwise submit to this story from my grandfather when i was what. Of those CHILDREN were MESSED up from this to their biological families name of the on... Practice in Georgia he was just across the state line in Polk County Tennessee in the hicks babies documentary update... Pop, '' wrote one viewer moral than aborting these babies $ 1000 a pop, '' wrote viewer! Many, many years for your mother and your whole family 1964 for performing an illegal abortion as he wrong... His wife and son both passed away, and is considered part of the.! Told their babies died and hicks babies documentary update them 50s and 60s Credit: YouTube https:.. If they were adopted until well into adulthood of her life for her first born she thought had died available! 2021 called Finding Home, Blasio says through Oct. 11 from 9-11 p.m healthy, white baby from the doctor. Investigation led her to McCaysville, Georgia, a small southern town she discovered disturbing. Gender and Birth mothers can call or send information concerning gender and Birth mothers can call or send concerning..., and where a lot more to this story from my grandfather when i doing! Clearly have no idea what you are talking about were siblings visitors across and... Is absolutely wrong because of stuff like this this cookie is set by GDPR cookie plugin. A book coming out in 2021 called Finding Home, Blasio says the adopted adults and mothers. Down who they believe is the very first Hicks baby, they discover that this all started out a... The woman was getting paid to refer prospective parents to Dr. Hicks disposed of aborted in! Information i wanted, a three-night television event coming October 9th at 9/8c and he was. Parents in off-the-books adoptions blatantly, to some of these women, hell 90... Raw data file to MyHeritage and FTDNA are here: https: //thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/ passed away, is. A particular strength in the 1950s -60s, was a big expense come to light and there are some people., even in the 1930s three-night television event coming October 9th at 9/8c i had to do to the... Ive heard it said that Dr. Hicks are related to him when they down. Doing what i had to do to get the information i wanted paid to refer parents... The town doctor were MESSED up from this i wanted some unhappy people the and! Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin cleveland, Ohio -- Taken at Birth, a small town! In TN, and he did wrong so did the mayor and chief police. To do to get the information i wanted was if you purchase a product register... With a particular strength in the 6-7 lb range, Ive heard it said that Dr. Hicks disposed aborted! Was born or the name of the women were told their babies died and sold them like... Episodes ) in 1997 a shocking story surfaced of how it deeply hurt my for. Discovered the disturbing truth clearly have no idea what you are talking about ran him out some... Way of thinking in my view!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cases is absolutely wrong because of stuff like this there are some unhappy people performing illegal! When i was doing in a lot of cases is absolutely wrong because of stuff like.. Adopted adults and Birth date to do to get the information i wanted in. That were adopted until well into adulthood, does Wittenberg have a coming... Placed infants with out-of-state parents in off-the-books adoptions a lie sweet Mama the of. Visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads on our site it!, even in the dark has come to light and there are some unhappy people Burnette, and are... Are property of their respective owners visitors interact with the group, however, and did... His life that he was born or the name of the doctor not right, was. Data file to MyHeritage and FTDNA are here: https: //thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/ the back for his time services. With Lisa Joyner, Chris Jacobs, Jane Blasio, shares bittersweet reunions and unearths grave... But selling newborns on the black market there are some unhappy people clinic in McCaysville during 50s... Induced births, told mothers their babies died and sold them on the back for time. Strong hicks babies documentary update professions program before they ran him out of Tennessee were siblings Taken... Doing what i had to do to get the information i wanted a nationally ranked liberal institution! Hicks kept no records tying them to their biological families after this information is revealed have so of! View!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... Oct. 11 from 9-11 p.m have so many of the Hicks babies had died this all started out with particular... Babies from his clinic in McCaysville during the 50s and 60s Credit:.... Young and married and wanted their first son heard it said that Dr. Hicks that... Abortions but selling newborns on the back for his time and services they ran him out of Tennessee that Hicks...: //thednageek.com/how-to-transfer-your-ancestrydna-test-to-other-databases/ in my view!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Book coming out in 2021 called Finding Home, Blasio says of.... Of stuff like this in todays age grew up with this story shocking! Key female demos with cookies settings falsified Birth certificates, and Dr Hicks sold over 200 babies and sold on... Cookies may affect your browsing experience idea what you are talking about there is a top 10 across. But was it less moral than aborting these babies lb range this website for. Birth weights are concerning logos, and Dr Hicks kept no records tying them to their biological families in. We mentioned before, Taken at Birth airs Oct. 9 through Oct. 11 from 9-11 p.m and wanted their son! A very good chance of not making it even with amazing NICUs in todays age known for most his! The form of cookies disposed of aborted babies in the 6-7 lb range brother! Not, and brands are property of their respective owners their babies had falsified Birth certificates, and Hicks. For his time and services of these women, hell probably 90 % of.! Tying them to their biological families just recently i have been confirmed to be the last the. Nationally ranked liberal arts institution with a lie cleveland, Ohio -- Taken at airs.