English
Fertility fraud DNA discovery changed Summer McKesson’s life forever. For years, she suffered from severe, unexplained blood clotting. Doctors struggled to find the cause of her recurring clots. A single clot can kill, but McKesson’s case baffled specialists. She underwent multiple surgeries to remove clots and scar tissue. McKesson even traveled to the renowned Mayo Clinic. Their expert team, however, also found no answers.
The Genetic Clues
McKesson, 43, sought answers from 23andMe. She hoped the DNA analysis service could provide genetic health clues. Her quest revealed a shocking family secret. A surgeon first raised a red flag during an urgent 2022 procedure. He noticed her connective tissue was unusually fragile. This complication, along with her tall and willowy build, suggested Marfan syndrome. A geneticist later confirmed the Marfan diagnosis. The specialist also confirmed her clotting disorder was genetic. Both conditions created serious, lifelong health challenges. McKesson now needs constant heart monitoring. She will eventually require another major heart surgery.
The diagnosis was puzzling, however. McKesson knew no family members with these genetic conditions. Her father died when she was a teenager. She lacked a full picture of her family’s health history. She submitted her DNA sample to 23andMe.
An Unfolding Paternity Mystery
The results arrived in October 2023. McKesson quickly checked the results on her phone. She initially hoped to learn about her ethnic background. Her family often joked she was adopted because of her looks. While ancestry held few surprises, the “family members” section did. The test showed she had seven half-siblings. “How is this possible?” she recalled thinking, shocked. She wondered if her late father had a second family.
McKesson messaged her newly discovered half-siblings through the site. Humor helped her cope with the shock. After more than a month, one person finally replied. “Ask your parents if they went to see Dr. Peete,” the message read. This led McKesson to the stunning truth.
Doctor Charles Peete’s Deception
Dr. Charles Peete was a fertility specialist at Duke University Hospital. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he treated Laurie and Doug Kruppa. The Kruppas needed fertility treatment because Doug had a vasectomy. They opted for Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). They were told a medical school resident would provide the donor sperm. Peete performed the procedure multiple times. Unbeknownst to them, Peete used his own sperm without consent. He fathered the Kruppas’ three children this way.
The children later used 23andMe and discovered the truth. Their middle child first linked their paternity to Dr. Peete. Jim Harris also learned he was donor-conceived. He later discovered Dr. Peete was also his biological father. Harris’s mother was a patient of Peete in 1977. Peete died in 2013 at age 89. He was reportedly a mentor at Duke. His actions today constitute medical malpractice and fraud. Peete is now believed to have fathered at least 12 children outside his family. This total relies solely on consumer DNA tests. The total number of victims may be much higher.
Seeking Justice and Medical History
The fertility fraud DNA discovery left McKesson devastated. She feels she is the “product of a crime.” Her Marfan syndrome could be linked to Peete’s older age. A study showed genetic risks increase as fathers age. Peete was nearly 60 when McKesson was conceived. Without Peete’s full medical history, she cannot be sure.
Both McKesson and Kruppa contacted Duke University. Duke officials acknowledged the “unacceptable actions.” They claim such actions “could not happen today.” Duke now offers an ethics course on fertility fraud. However, both women feel limited in seeking justice. Peete is deceased, and North Carolina lacks a specific fraud statute. McKesson urges all half-siblings to get tested. Untreated Marfan syndrome has an average life expectancy of 45. Treatment can allow a normal lifespan. “My hope in sharing my story is that I could save their life,” she said.
