Free Republic

DAYTON -- Imagine never knowing who your biological parents are, or where you came from. That is the reality for 400K people born in Ohio from the mid 1960's until 1996. Their birth records have been sealed, until this Friday. The law originally passed in 1963 was designed to give birth parents some protection, and it was heavily supported by the adoptive parents. But fast forward 50 years, and attitudes have changed. "I've always known that I was adopted... and I've always known that I wanted to find my birth parents," said Beth Miller who described her childhood as ordinary...

Bob Kunath recognized something in the way the pixie face of the vintage cookie jar winked at him. It was like it had a secret. What he didn't know was that he had come upon a secret that would change his life. [snipped] It wasn't until the package arrived last week that the secret was revealed. The man who sold Kunath the cookie jar was a brother he has never met. Kunath, adopted when he was an infant, has often wondered about his biological parents. He knew from his adoption papers that his mother's name is June Shaw and his...

Lawyers: Deal reached in 22-year-old kidnapping case 06/18/2002 Associated Press NEW YORK - A couple charged with kidnapping a baby 22 years ago and raising him as their son has reached a plea deal that would spare them lengthy prison terms, defense lawyers said Tuesday. Barry Smiley, 56, would get two to six years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to second-degree kidnapping, said his lawyer, Raymond Colon. Judith Smiley, 55, would admit to second-degree kidnapping and first-degree custodial interference for a six-month prison term and five years' probation, according to her attorney, Steven Brill. AP Matthew Propp,...