Five adopted children in the US, stolen as infants, meet their biological parents in Chile

Five adopted children from families in the US left Houston on Friday to reunite with their families in Chile for the first time after being stolen as infants decades ago during his dictatorship Augusto Pinochet.

“I will finally meet the person who brought me to this world and see where I draw my energy and to whom I look”, said the Ana Maria Haefmeyer to Reutersone of the 36 -year -old adopted, administrative assistant from Minnesota.

Haefmeyer and the others managed to find their biological parents thanks to her efforts Connecting Roots, An NGO dedicated to the reunification of Chilean adopted children with their families.

Human Rights Groups estimate that Thousands of children were stolen by their parents during the violent dictatorship of Pinochet, which lasted from 1973 to 1990, and were adopted by foreign families.

Pinochet encouraged adoptions to reduce poverty, while medical professionals, clergy, judges and others are believed to have benefited from adoptions.

Connecting Roots was founded by Tyler Graf, a Texas firefighter and adopted, who discovered that he had been stolen shortly after his birth and reunited with his family in Chile.

NGO uses DNA test from Myheritage To reunite families and says that more than 100 families have come into contact with the hope of finding their children after a similar trip last year.

The five adopted will land in Chile on Saturday and spend the next few days with their families.

Haefmeyer said she had a piece of paper with her mother’s name and was looking for her biological mother throughout her life, without luck. Only after getting married and went to change her name, she learned that she was still a citizen of Chile and decided to address Connecting Roots.

Haefmeyer says she’s excited and nervous, adding that Her adoptive parents supported her journey.

“They know it will fill the hole I have in my heart that I always felt like missing“, Said Haefmeyer.