Craigslist Helps Texas Woman, Lori McInturff, Find Long Lost Brother, Matt Beaumont

A Texas woman has found her long lost brother thanks to a serendipitous post on Craigslist, ABC News reports.

For most of their lives, neither Lori McInturff nor Matt Beaumont knew of the other's existence. Siblings by birth, the two have never met in person.

According to KCBD News, McInturff, 50, was adopted when she was three days old and has long wanted to learn more about her biological family.

After years of searching, McInturff tracked down her original birth certificate late last year. She learned that both her biological parents had passed away, but that she had a brother.

"When I heard 'full blood brother', I made it my mission. I was going to find him," McInturff, who lives in Levelland, Tex., told ABC.

Armed with a name, an age, a photograph she'd found on the Internet and some inkling of his location, McInturff began to look for her brother -- a 48-year-old man called Matt Beaumont who possibly lived in British Columbia, Canada.

Last month, her expectations low, McInturff decided to post an ad on Craigslist, EverythingLubbock.com reports.

"I thought, that's a stupid idea, no one is ever going to read that. I clicked on Canada and all these towns came up, so I just picked one," McInturff told KCBD. She picked the town of Victoria.

McInturff said that what happened next was nothing less than "a god-given miracle".

Within two hours of her post, McInturff received an email. It was Matt Beaumont. The email's subject: "You found me!"

According to EverythingLubbock.com, Beaumont's friend had seen the Craigslist post and told him about it. Immediately, Beaumont -- who had no idea that he had a sister named Lori -- sent her the email introducing himself.

Since then, the siblings have spent hours video-chatting over the Internet, catching up on almost five decades of lost time and marveling at their many similarities -- from sharing the same cheekbones to the same phobias.

"I can't even explain the completeness -- I'm 50 years old and I'm finally complete," McInturff told ABC.

"To have Lori finally find me and close that circle -- that was the greatest thing that's ever happened to me in my life," Beaumont added.

According to KCBD, McInturff has sent a thank you note to Craigslist in recognition of the central role the website played in helping her find her brother.

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Comments

[dbrett480]

07:53 PM on 05/21/2012

I can never understand how these people get passed the sealed records. While this is a good story, what if the woman is just out for money and exploits the brother?

[wtpgentlesk]

01:40 PM on 05/10/2012

Sealed records are barbaric, and it's time for adoption practice to come into the twenty-first century. Why must adult adoptees pay fees or search for years for information that belongs to them? Their original birth certificates should never have been sealed in the first place, and the intent was never to protect original mothers from their own offspring. The data shows the vast majority of original families do not want anonymity. Those who oppose reform are primarily adoption agencies and attorneys who fear more openness might affect their bottom lines or reveal some of the unscrupulous practices of the past. It's time for legislators to do their homework and do the right thing, in spite of the opposition of well-funded lobbies.

[imanormalalien]

08:35 AM on 05/09/2012

aww, I'm so happy for them

[LessieS]

08:20 PM on 05/08/2012

Serendipitous that this story has a word that reminds me of home, that I have disconnect, have used CL, and am a dreamer that I love sweet surprises. Good news!

[Holly H]

05:25 PM on 05/08/2012

Love it!! Great to end the day on a positive note! Happy Trails!

[wnzeidenstein]

03:16 PM on 05/08/2012

What a happy ending! I'm glad this woman found her brother. I hope they enjoy each other in the years to come. I wish they make a law agains seperating siblings. It can strain relationships. I'm glad for the internet It can help you fine things easier.

[I Ride My Own Harley]

02:45 PM on 05/08/2012

I am 49yrs. old and was adopted at 3 days old in 1962 to wonderful parents. My story didn't have a happy ending. My adoptive family all went to college. I missed 1 day of school in 12 years. Told my parents that's all the schooling I wanted. My parents had money and spoiled me so I wasn't interested in college. Figured out after I was grown that the rest of the family resented me for being well off from day 1 and that I didn't have to go to college. Really? And that's my fault? I'm also skinny and they are all overweight. I live a modest lifestyle because that's all I wanted. They all have big expensive homes (debt). I'm very happy for them but I don't envy their debt. They are all married. I'm divorced. I'm not flesh & blood so I'm the blacksheep. I love them all dearly because we grew up together and they are all I know but they have all written me letters telling me never to come around that part of the family. They all go to church too. Imagine that. Isn't that being christian like to tell the adopted one off. Thank GOD for my friends & daughter & granddaughter. I don't have any other flesh & blood family. Thanks for listening.

[GraceNFaith]

02:01 PM on 05/08/2012

My parents finally told me and my brother the "family secret" when I was 36 years old. This was one of the best kept secrets ever especially since we came from a very small town where everyone knows everyone and the gossip mill is always in high gear. When my mom was still in high school she became pregnant. Her parents sent her to a place for unwed pregnant girls which was run by nuns. The adoption was closed and she never knew who adopted her child. Thirty seven years later her first child found her. She mainly wanted to know the family medical history since she had a child with health issues and was pregnant with her 2nd child. She was blessed with wonderful adoptive parents and other adopted siblings! While it was awesome to meet and get to know my sister, she stopped speaking to us once she got the info she wanted. She also refused to tell her adoptive parents or her kids about finding us. So the whole ordeal has been bittersweet and an emotional roller coaster. I have a biological sister but it seems that she no longer wants any contact with us?! I'm terminal now and my mother is very ill. Life is so short and time so precious! I feel like we were blessed with a beautiful gift then had it taken away along with a piece of our heart....sighs

[Saharanprince]

01:54 PM on 05/08/2012

considering that this is the south, I'm surprised that it wasn't her husband

[doodlebug42]

03:03 PM on 05/08/2012

Are you really as stupid as you sound? I bet you are!

[ctlnaaia71]

01:54 PM on 05/08/2012

First time I see something good happens using craigslist!

[Carlos Lomba Jr]

12:31 PM on 05/08/2012

now if I can only find people that owe me money I would be complete too

[Pax333]

12:36 PM on 05/08/2012

And you came up with that conclusion while reading an article about how siblings found each other? Was it everyone saying how wonderful it is that gave you that brilliant theory?

[sprkyreed]

01:00 PM on 05/08/2012

No one gives a s*** about you either, do they launius?

[Lorimc12]

02:23 PM on 05/08/2012

You are a sad sick little person!

[bradhshickoh]

11:11 AM on 05/08/2012

Wonderful, Wonderful story! There should be more stories like this on Huff. I have had enough of the Hollywood people. God Bless them both.

[Maura Cooper Macaluso]

10:52 AM on 05/08/2012

I am 50 and in the US also, recently found my father in Ireland, 3 brothers and 2 sisters after having never known any of them. I have now met 2 of them. meeting a third this summer. This story is no longer a rare occurrence thanks to the internet. Its still a small world.