Man Shocked To Find His Photo On Missing Children’s Website

Note: This story was originally reported in April 2012.

This is a remarkable tale of resilience and hope, centered on one man’s quest for self-identity that led to an incredible discovery after over 30 years. Steve Carter, a 35-year-old software salesman from Philadelphia, unexpectedly found himself featured on a missing children’s website, sparking a yearlong journey to uncover the truth about his past.

Carter’s journey began when he decided to trace his origins. Adopted at the age of four from an orphanage in Honolulu, Hawaii, he had long pondered his true identity. Inspired by the story of Carlina White—who found her own baby photo on the same website and learned she had been abducted—Carter felt compelled to explore his own mysterious background.

His exploration commenced with a visit to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s site, Missingkids.com. To his surprise, he discovered an age-progression image based on a photograph of him as an infant. Recognizing himself in the image, he reached out to the Honolulu Police Department to dig deeper into his history.

A DNA test conducted in February 2011 proved pivotal, revealing his birth name: Marx Panama Moriarty Barnes. It turned out that his biological father, Mark Barnes, had reported him missing over 30 years ago after his mother, Charlotte Moriarty, took him for a stroll and never returned. The details surrounding Carter’s adoption remain largely unclear.

Robert Lowery, the executive director of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, encourages individuals questioning their pasts to explore their resources. He remarked that Carter’s story represents “a happy ending to a narrative that often lacks one.” For Steve Carter, this incredible journey highlights the potential for hope and resolution, reminding us that even after many years, it’s possible to uncover the truth and achieve reunions against all odds.
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