Opelousas, Louisiana: The Boy Two Mothers Claimed—A 92-Year DNA Mystery

Opelousas, Louisiana. Columbia, Mississippi, April 1913. Julia Anderson walked into the sheriff's office, holding a photograph of her son Bruce. She'd been told the boy they'd found matched his description. Five years old, light hair, distinctive scars. But when they brought the child out, he looked at Julia with blank eyes. No recognition. No mama. Just fear. The sheriff asked, is this your boy? Julia Anderson studied his face. The moles didn't match her memory. The scars weren't quite right.

TIMELINE
1912: Opelousas in 1912 was a prosperous town of about 5,000 folks sitting in the heart of Cajun country.
1913: On April 12, 1913, authorities arrested Wolters in Columbia, Mississippi.
1966: Bobby Dunbar had died in 1966, but Bobby Dunbar Jr. approached his cousin, Margaret Dunbar Cutright, about DNA testing.
2004: In 2004, DNA testing proved they'd all been wrong.

WHY THIS MATTERS
The story of Opelousas is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know.

Episode 186 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters

Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-history

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