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A Family Lost: Tracing a Mother Who Disappeared in Australia | Every Family Has A Secret: Episode 5

Ancestry

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Matthieu Heimel grew up knowing little of his past. Adopted by a French family and now an Australian citizen, his journey to find his biological parents led to a moving reunion with his African American father. But his search for his mother, born in the Philippines, took an unexpected and tragic turn. He discovers she too moved to Australia... and has since vanished. Listed as missing and presumed a victim of homicide, Matthieu is now determined to unravel the mystery of her disappearance. Did she start a new life with a new identity, or can he uncover the truth about what happened?

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20 Comments

@selfishdeed 10 months ago

Matthieu's mother would be very proud to have a son who seeks justice and truth for her.

@TheHighPriestess108 10 months ago

It’s so beautiful that Mathieu looks so much like both sides of his family and that they have all embraced him.

@delynryan5546 10 months ago

You are not only a good son Matthieu, you are a good person. I hope the police will find out what happened to your Mom

@geeemm8028 10 months ago

Matthieu's mother's story is heartbreaking and, as an American (in California), I am happy his father's family has so warmly welcomed him.

@kva7922046 10 months ago

That poor man. He did as much as he could for his mother. I hope that she'd have been proud.

@patriciaswis4116 10 months ago

Would love a follow-up on if Matthieu reconnected with his two half-sisters, and what happened when the police followed up on the new evidence.

@frannymcb_ 10 months ago

Aww, his first gift from his mother 😢

@Button379 10 months ago

Matthieu is such a darling man. In his mother's shoes, not only would I be extraordinarily proud of him, I would be relieved that he is nothing like the violent and exploitative man she (allegedly) encountered towards the end of her life. In that situation, at that time, there is every possibility that the use of the word 'affair' was horribly inaccurate.

I think Matthieu's mum would want to thank his adoptive parents for raising him so well. He will have never been far from her thoughts and I bet my bottom pound sterling that in her last moments she will have regretted not having the opportunity to see him again the most.

@getprettyfit1997 9 months ago

Both his parents are good looking. Their son is highly intelligent.

@AliChaps 10 months ago

Matthieu may be the sweetest man walking this earth.

@KJplays_edits 10 months ago (edited)

This is so touching. Where there is no justice, there will never be true peace, there is an imbalance in the spirit, a misalignment of life and lives are impacted. I am impressed by the record keeping and importance of Historians. This teaches also about the importance of living honest lives, especially with our children, so they don't have to waste time and resources trying to find out something that could have been resolved with a conversation.

@SchmittyMagoo 8 months ago

Enlarging and printing documents for the guest to read and hold makes the presentation of information even better. Well done Ancestry.

@Asm5409 10 months ago

Every episode of this show has been fascinating. Very well done.

@joeleen702 10 months ago

What a story! Both of them. So heartbreaking about Matthieu’s mother. 😢

@tutyhasjim4170 10 months ago

The house where the three generations used to live is very well kept.

@ellamae6360 10 months ago (edited)

Matthieu, sorry this has happened to your mother. The Philippine embassy should find out what happened to the missing ladies. The families wants answers. And. I hope the Phil. Govt would put pressure on the investigation. If those ladies were other nationalities the police would not have stopped looking for answers. Thank you for helping. Your mom would be proud, I agree. The voice for the voiceless.

@Victoria-Louise 10 months ago

Another moving episode. Thank you for sharing your stories. I hope that one day answers regarding the 3 women will be found. Thank you Ancestry for sharing.

@Samphirebythesea 8 months ago

What a wonderful series this is, the dignity of the guests is so impressive. I hope with all my heart that Matthieu and his family will find the answers that they need one day.

@robertab7341 10 months ago (edited)

Any renovations going on at the Melbourne Club when she went missing? Nothing proved against anyone of course. The actress mother, because of the bigamous marriage of her father to her mother meant she was illegitimate which at that time, growing up in the 1930s was a huge social stigma. Explains the silence and cover-ups