Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2023
Contact: Nancy Kinnally, Media Relations Consultant
Phone/WhatsApp: (407) 375-2264
nancy@therelatablegroup.com
Tyler Graf
Phone/WhatsApp: (832) 226-8349
t.graf@connecting-roots.com

Two Texas firefighters stolen at birth under the Pinochet regime head to Chile to connect with their biological families, right decades-old wrongs

HOUSTON — Houston firefighter Tyler Graf, who was stolen at birth in 1983 in Temuco, Chile—not willingly given up for adoption as his adoptive American parents believed—is returning to Chile Feb. 18 to visit his birthmother and to reunite another Chilean-born Texas firefighter with his mother for the first time, nearly 39 years after he was taken from her at 10 months of age.

Graf first made contact with his birthmother, Hilda Quezada Godoy, in May 2021, nearly 10 years after a Chilean firefighter visiting Houston for a training program returned to Chile with his adoption file and a promise to search for her.

Since that time, Graf has been to Chile and developed a relationship with Quezada, as well as three sisters he never knew he had. He also has formed a nonprofit, Connecting Roots, that has helped reunite 37 families who were similarly separated under the regime of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who ruled the country from 1973 to 1990 and regarded the export of poor families’ babies as an effective anti-poverty measure. A Chilean judge who opened a criminal inquiry into the adoptions in 2018, estimates that as many as 20,000 of them may have taken place from 1970 to 1999.

“It’s time do what’s right and help bring these families together that were torn apart against their will,” Graf said. “We were left with aching hearts and the sense of something missing, like a puzzle without the last piece. It is a life filled with what-ifs: What would life have been like if I hadn’t been adopted?” Raised in Minnesota by loving adoptive parents he says were “amazing,” he nonetheless suffered under the lie that his mother gave him away, when in fact she also had been told her baby had died, a tactic used repeatedly by a sinister network of Chilean judges, social workers, health professionals and adoption brokers.

“I like to say our story is like walking into a movie five minutes late, and you might have missed the plot,” Graf said.

In fact, the plot of Graf’s life is remarkably similar to that of Odessa, Texas, firefighter David Avary, who along with his adoptive mother is being escorted to Chile by Connecting Roots board members.

“After being separated for 38 years, David will be meeting his biological mother for the first time, with his adoptive mother by his side full of support,” Graf said.

And for the first time since she adopted her son, Graf’s adoptive mother, Carol Graf Carnish, will make the journey to Chile, where she will help celebrate his 40th birthday with his biological family. Graf and Avary will remain in Chile until March 5th. They have a few additional objectives for the trip, including working with Connecting Roots Vice President Juan Luis Insunza Fernandez, a Chilean firefighter, who helped Graf find his biological mother.

“We will be meeting with several government officials to discuss the kidnappings and our mission to reunite families and to ask for their help,” Graf said, adding that his biological and adoptive mothers will be present at the meetings. “Our goal is to effectively ask for them to join us, not to point the blame.”

Connecting Roots also helps families negotiate the emotional landscape of forced adoption.

“We travel back and forth to Chile to escort adoptees for their reunions and ensure that they feel safe and don’t feel alone,” Graf said. “This foundation was only possible with the help of friends and family and even adoptees. This is our foundation built on the love for helping others and helping give a voice to those that have been silenced for so long.”

That desire to help others lies at the heart of Graf’s profession, which he will also put into action during the trip.

One year ago, Graf visited his middle sister in Collipulli, Chile, which was being overtaken by wildfires at the time. His sister introduced him to firefighters there, who gave him a badge and made him an honorary member of their department.

“They said I was now officially one of them and to grab some fire gear, and we were back on the next fire truck. We were out for the next 48 hours fighting wildfires and house fires,” Graf said.

This year those same firefighters are battling wildfires across south-central Chile that have killed 26 people and destroyed more than 1,100 homes. Graf plans to help them again. And Avary plans to assist local firefighters in Santiago during his visit.

“I am a firefighter, and when I see towns being overrun and people losing everything, I just have to jump in and help,” Graf said.

About Connecting Roots
Connecting Roots is a U.S. non-profit organization whose goal is to reunite adoptees with their biological Chilean families. We donate MyHeritage DNA testing kits at no cost to confirm genetic matches between Chile-born adoptees and their families. We are dedicated to collaborating with partner non-profit organizations to raise awareness and help those affected by the 1980’s kidnapping operation that occurred during the Pinochet regime. Connecting Roots invites donations at https://www.connecting-roots.com/donation/.

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Comunicado de Prensa

PARA PUBLICACACION INMEDIATA
Febrero 13, 2023
Comunicarse con: Nancy Kinnally, Consultora de relaciones de los medios.
Phone/WhatsApp: (407) 375-2264
nancy@therelatablegroup.com
Tyler Graf
Phone/WhatsApp: (832) 226-8349
t.graf@connecting-roots.com

Dos bomberos de Texas secuestrados al nacer bajo el régimen de Pinochet se dirigen a Chile para conectarse con sus familias biológicas y corregir errores de hace décadas

HOUSTON—Tyler Graf, un bombero de Houston quien fue robado al nacer em 1983 en Temuco, Chile, y no dado en adopción voluntariamente como creían sus padres adoptivos estadounidenses, regresará a Chile el 18 de Febrero para visitar a su madre biológica y reunir a otro tejano nacido en Chile con su mama por primera vez, casi 39 años después de que se lo arrebataron a los 10 meses de edad.

Graf se puso en contacto por primera vez con su madre biológica, Hilda Quezada Godoy, en Mayo 2021, casi 10 años después del regreso de un bombero Chileno que visito Houston para un programa de capacitación a Chile con su expediente de adopción y la promesa de buscarla.

Desde entonces, Graf ha estado en Chile y desarrollo una relación con Quezada, así como con tres hermanas que nunca supo que tenía. También formo una organización sin fines de lucro, Connecting Roots, que ayudo a reunir 37 familias que fueron separadas de manera similar bajo el régimen del dictador Chileno Augusto Pinochet, quien gobernó el País de 1973 a 1990 y considero la exportación de los bebes de las familias pobres como una eficaz medida anti-pobreza. Un Juez Chileno que abrió una investigación penal sobre las adopciones en el 2018, se estima que se pudieron haber tomado hasta 20,000 de ellas, de 1970 a 1999.

“Es hora de hacer lo correcto y ayudar a unir a estas familias que fueron separadas contra su voluntad”, dijo Graf “Nos quedamos con el corazón dolido y la sensación de que faltaba algo, como un rompecabezas sin la última pieza. Es una vida con preguntas sin respuesta: ¿Cómo hubiera sido la vida si no me hubieran adoptado?”

Criado en Minnesota por amorosos padres adoptivos que él dice que fueron “increíbles” sin embargo sufrió bajo la mentira de que su madre lo entrego, cuando en realidad también le habían dicho que su bebe había muerto, una táctica utilizada repetidamente por una siniestra red de Chilenos que incluía Jueces, trabajadores sociales, profesionales de la salud y agentes de adopción.

“Me gusta decir que nuestra historia es como entrar al cine y ver la película 5 minutos tarde y es posible que te hayas perdido la trama”, dijo Graf.

De hecho, la trama de la vida de Graf es notablemente similar a la del bombero de Odessa, Texas; David Avary, quien junto con su madre adoptiva es escoltada a Chile por miembros de la junta directiva de Connecting Roots.

“Después de estar separados 38 años, David conocerá a su madre biológica por primera vez con su madre adoptiva a su lado llena de apoyo”, dijo Graf.

Y por primera vez desde que adopto a su hijo, la madre adoptiva de Graf, Carol Graf Carnish, hará el viaje a Chile, donde ayudará a celebrar el cumpleaños 40 de su hijo con su familia biológica.

Graf, quien permanecerá en Chile hasta el 5 de marzo, tiene algunos objetivos adicionales para el viaje, entre ellos trabajar con el vicepresidente de Connecting Roots, Juán Luis Insunza Fernandez, el bombero de Santiago de Chile que ayudo a Graf a encontrar a su madre biológica. “Nos reuniremos con varios funcionarios del gobierno para discutir los secuestros y nuestra misión de reunir familias y pedir su ayuda”, dijo Graf, y agrego que sus madres biológica y adoptiva estarán presentes en las reuniones. “Nuestro objetivo es pedirles efectivamente que se unan a nosotros, no señalar culpables”.

El objetivo de Graf como presidente y director ejecutivo de Connecting Roots es ayudar a reunir y garantizar el éxito de los adoptados y sus familias biológicas. Desde que fundo la organización en diciembre de 2021, se ha asociado a MyHeritage, cuyos kits de pruebas de ADN son vitales para el proceso de reunificación, y Babbel, que ayuda a las familias a aprender los idiomas a través de suscripciones gratuitas. Connecting Roots también ayuda a las familias a negociar el panorama emocional de la adopción forzada.

“Viajamos de ida y vuelta a Chile para acompañar a los adoptados a sus reuniones y asegurarnos de que se sientan seguros y no se sientan solos”, dijo Graf. “Esta fundación solo fue posible con la ayuda de amigos y familiares incluso de personas adoptadas. Esta es nuestra fundación construida sobre el amor por ayudar a los demás y dar voz a aquellos que han sido silenciados durante tanto tiempo”. Ese deseo de ayudar está en el corazón de la profesión de Graf, que también pondrá en práctica durante el viaje.

Hace un año, Graf visito a su hermana en Collipulli, Chile, que en ese momento estaba siendo invadida por incendios forestales. Su hermana lo presento a los bomberos de allí, quienes le dieron una placa y lo nombro miembro honorario de su departamento. “Dijeron que ahora era oficialmente uno de ellos y que tomara algunos equipos contra incendios, y estábamos de vuelta en el siguiente camión de bomberos. Estuvimos fuera durante las próximas 48 horas combatiendo incendios forestales e incendios domésticos”, dijo Graf. Este año, esos mismos bomberos luchan contra los incendios forestales en el centro-sur de Chile que han matado 26 personas y destruido más de 1100 hogares. Graf planea ayudarles nuevamente, mientras Avary planea trabajar con bomberos en Santiago de Chile.

“Soy bombero, y cuando veo ciudades invadidas y personas que pierden todo, solo tengo que intervenir y ayudar”, dijo Graf.

Acerca de Connegting Roots
Connecting Roots es una organizacion estadounidense sin fines de lucro cuyo objetivo es reunir a los adoptados con sus familias biologicas Chilenas. Donamos kits de ADN de My Heritage sin costo para confirmar las coincidencias geneticas entre los adoptados nacidos en Chile y sus familias. Estamos dedicados a colaborar con organizaciones sin fines de lucro asociadas para crear conciencias y ayudar a los afectados por la operación de secuestro de los años 80 que ocurrio durante el regimen de Pinochet. Connectig Roots invita a realizar donaciones en: https://www.connecting-roots.com/donation/.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2025
Contact: media@connecting-roots.com
Phone/WhatsApp: (832) 226-8349
t.graf@connecting-roots.com
Tyler Graf
Phone/WhatsApp: (832) 226-8349
t.graf@connecting-roots.com

Five U.S. adoptees forcibly taken under the Pinochet regime will travel to Chile together, five to reunite with their biological families and one to search for hers

HOUSTON — In the largest such reunion trip to date, five U.S. adoptees taken from their families during the regime of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet will return to Chile together for the first time since their forced adoptions decades ago. The flight will depart George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) airport in Houston on Feb. 21 at 8:25 p.m. and land at 8:50 a.m. local time in Santiago the following morning amid a crowd of their newfound family members.

Connecting Roots President and CEO Tyler Graf and Treasurer and Director of Logistics David Avary, both adoptees who have made the trip before, will be escorting five adoptees for their initial reunions with family members. Cristina Prisco, Vice President (U.S. Office), also an adoptee who made the trip before, and Juan Luis Insunza Fernandez, Vice President (Chile Office) will be at the airport to greet them. One adoptee who is still searching for her family will be traveling with the group as well.

The adoptees preparing to meet their birth families for the first time are:

• Adamary Garcia of Miami, Fla. Adamary was born in Quintero, Chile, in 1984. Her adoptive parents are Latino and she grew up speaking Spanish and English. Her adoption was never spoken about at home, and all that she knew was that she was born in Chile. A few years ago she was contacted by someone who found that they had various DNA coincidences on MyHeritage. After researching their connection, he was able to give her the name of her biological mother. Some time later, she read an article about Connecting Roots and decided it was time to start a search. Garcia was reunited with her biological mother and three siblings via video call in October 2024. Since then they have kept in close contact and she is excited to be able to travel to the country of her birth and reunite with her biological family. “I'm looking forward to sharing stories, learning about my Chilean roots, immersing myself in the culture, and finally seeing the faces I never knew existed.”

 

• Ana-Maria Haefemeyer of Morristown, Minn. Ana-Maria was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1988. Shortly thereafter, she was adopted by loving parents. What her parents did not know at the time was that Haefemeyer’s biological mother was forced to give four of her babies, including her, up for adoption. Forced and coerced adoptions were the norm under the regime of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to 1990, a period during which adoptive parents all over the world unknowingly participated in irregular adoptions. In December 2023, Haefemeyer saw her mother and siblings for the first time over video call. "I am so lucky to now know I have two wonderful families and I can’t wait to share my love with all of them. I feel complete!”

 

• Jada Thiemann of San Jose, Calif. In 2022, Jada came across a video online of Tyler Graf in which he explained how he discovered that he was taken as a baby from his Chilean mother, who was told he had died, and adopted to the U.S. She became curious about her own adoption. Having three children of her own, she thought about the suffering her mother could have gone through thinking she had died. Thiemann’s adoptive mother contacted Tyler for help in discovering the truth about her adoption. When her biological mother was found, she told her that she had been stolen from her arms shortly after her birth. Now, Thiemann and two of her children will travel to Chile together to be reunited with their mother and grandmother for the first time. “I feel like a weight is being lifted. I feel like I'm returning to a place I was meant to be, to a life that was supposed to be.”

 

• Natalie [last name withheld] of Edmond, Okla. Born in Santiago, Chile in 1985, Natalie always knew she was adopted. Her parents had told her what they knew; that her biological mother was ill and had to give her up for adoption and that she also had a sister and a brother. In 2024, one of her clients, who knew she was adopted from Chile, told her about a radio interview she heard on NPR with Tyler Graf. She reached out to Connecting Roots to start her search. Sadly, her biological mother passed away in 2003 but she was able to reconnect with her sister and brother. “I’m looking forward to connecting with my siblings and having two people who share the same DNA as me in my presence for the first time.”

The five reunifications taking place during this trip are among dozens Connecting Roots has been a part of since its founding in December 2021. With widespread international media coverage of the organization’s last trip to Chile in 2024, inquiries from U.S. adoptees have increased dramatically. Since the trip in 2024, Connecting Roots has had 11 adoptee queries result in DNA matches (with two more awaiting results), all made through MyHeritage DNA test kits which Connecting Roots delivers and collects.

The adoptee still searching for her biological family is Julea Ferrara of Shorewood, Wis. Born in 1981 in Viña del Mar, Chile, Julea was adopted to Michigan as an infant. Two years ago one of her sorority sisters shared a story of a Chilean adoptee from Virgina reuniting with his biological mother after she was told that he had died at birth. After contacting the NGO in Chile that was mentioned in the news story, she was informed that based on her adoption documents, her adoption was more than likely irregular. Hearing this brought up mixed feelings for Ferrara, and she didn’t want to hurt her adoptive parents by looking for her biological family. For years she had convinced herself that she was never going to find her family. It took her a year to work through her feelings, and when she heard about the Connecting Roots annual adoptee trip, she knew that she had to travel to Chile to keep searching. “I’m now hoping to go to Chile to learn more about my roots, my culture and fully immerse myself in the connections I make and hopefully that leads me to connect with my family,” Julea said.

Graf, a Houston firefighter who founded Connecting Roots after discovering his own biological family in Chile, was stolen at birth in 1983 in Temuco, Chile. He first made contact with his birth mother in 2021. Since then, he has been to Chile and developed a relationship with his birth mother, as well as three sisters he never knew he had.

Awareness has grown within Chile, and after the reunion trip in February 2024, Connecting Roots received over 100 emails from family members in Chile searching for their lost loved ones. In the past year the team in Chile collected DNA from 20 mothers or close relatives, some of whom are still waiting for answers. MyHeritage donated 50 kits to Connecting Roots in 2024 and recently an additional 50 kits were shipped to Chile. When the shipment arrives, they plan on testing approximately 12 additional mothers or close relatives. Some cases might never be resolved for reasons such as either a lack of documentation or fraudulent documentation. But many more cases have yet to be discovered since thousands of mothers remain unaware that their children are still alive, or do not know where to begin searching, while their adult children do not realize that their adoptions from Chile during the 1970s and ‘80s may have been irregular.

Graf will be taking his firefighting gear along on the trip and helping fight wildfires near Collipulli, Chile. In the past, news of Graf’s volunteer firefighting in Chile has helped raise awareness for Connecting Roots and drawn the attention of families looking for their lost children. It has also helped create a network of firefighters who assist the team in Chile in delivering and collecting DNA kits from some of the rural locations that were hotbeds for kidnapping activity under the Pinochet regime due to the vulnerability of the women in these remote communities.

Avary, a firefighter from Odessa, Texas, will be making his second trip to Chile after being reunited with his biological mother and siblings for the first time in February 2023.

“I’m excited about returning to Chile and this time I am able to give back and help out with the reunifications as Connecting Roots helped me with mine,” Avary said.

Prisco, who has played a big role in organizing the annual trips and in 2024 started taking on adoptee investigations, said the experience of meeting her family in Chile for the first time in 2022 “changed my life, and I want to support adoptees and their families both adopted and biological, in whatever way I can.”

Leading Connecting Roots Chile is Vice President Juan Luis Insunza Fernández, a Santiago, Chile firefighter who helped Graf find his biological mother in 2021. Fernández, along with other members of the Chile team and volunteer translators, one assigned to each adoptee and family, will greet the group in Chile upon their arrival.

Graf’s goal as president and CEO of Connecting Roots is to help reunite and to ensure the success of adoptees and their biological families. To that end, he has formed partnerships not only with MyHeritage, but also language learning app Babbel, which is helping families learn each other’s languages through free subscriptions.

Anyone wishing to help Connecting Roots, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, defray the expenses of the trip, can do so through their GoFundMe campaign. Donors can also support their ongoing work to reunify families at: https://www.connecting-roots.com/donation/.

Note: Connecting Roots will be making video and still photos of 2025 adoptee reunions available here. Photos and videos from the 2024 reunion trip are available here.

About Connecting Roots
Connecting Roots is a U.S. non-profit organization whose goal is to reunite adoptees with their biological Chilean families. We donate MyHeritage DNA testing kits at no cost to confirm genetic matches between Chile-born adoptees and their families. We are dedicated to collaborating with partner non-profit organizations to raise awareness and help those affected by the kidnapping operation that occurred during the Pinochet regime. Connecting Roots invites donations at https://www.connecting-roots.com/donation/.

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