"48 Hours” contributor Troy Roberts on his life-changing decision | Forensic Files

following his coverage of a heartbreaking adoption story 48 Hours contributor Troy Roberts became
interested in adopting a child of his own then I had a story in Johannesburg South
Africa but I went to an orphanage there to make a donation I said you know what uh I'm
close to 40 now I'm gonna go for it Roberts then became certified to adopt a child and learned
of a woman in Djibouti who wanted to find someone to adopt her four-year-old son
and I looked at his photo and the resemblance was uncanny this looks like my kid
I noticed that his eyes danced thus a signal that he's smart he's clever the young boy's name was Abdi
Ayan Lee's mother kadra feared for her son's safety because he was mixed race iron Lay's biological father was a
French soldier who had a short affair with his mother kadra they were homeless and living in
abandoned building he was sleeping on the floor so was she begging was his routine
Roberts made an effort to get to know them I began bonding over hamburgers and fries and walking around on the street
Roberts made two more lengthy trips to Djibouti and made the decision that he wanted to adopt ironland however there
was one obstacle they needed to work around khad's Road never signed her name she didn't know how to sign her name
to practice over and over again you know over and over again it was such a loving and selfless effect
the attorney sitting next to us said to kadra Troy will be a good father and she looked me dead in the eye and
she said time will tell 10 months after meeting iron lay now known as Jonah Troy took
him home to the United States [Music] my name is Jonah gray Roberts and my father is Troy Roberts
Roberts and his newly adopted son then settled down in New York City my dad tells me I we're in New York City
because your new home and I remember seeing my first home my first real home and he's like this is your room it's my
own bed I didn't have to share with anyone I had a desk a place where I started studying had the tutors
it was it was amazing there was never father and adopted son it was always you know father and son
Troy says like any father he has a lot to learn from his son who needs three monitors Jonah I knew
you don't understand technology empty burrito refrigerating plastic what can I do and you just stand there
every Thanksgiving we have this thing where before we start eating after I've made the full meal because he doesn't
know how to cook um would always start off by saying like what we're grateful for this year Troy
says as the holidays roll around he is reminded how much we all have to be thankful for
it seems like everyone's story has a happy ending and uh that's that's pretty cool
[Music]

After covering a heartbreaking adoption story, Troy Roberts decided he wanted to adopt a child of his own. Years later, he reflected on how much we all have to be thankful for.

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

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Brief Summary

Troy Roberts shares his adoption journey of son Jonah from Djibouti, highlighting challenges and their bond as father and son.

Key points

Troy's Journey to Fatherhood. After a heartbreaking adoption story, Troy Roberts decides to adopt a child himself.
Meeting Jonah. Troy meets a boy in Djibouti who resembles him and decides to adopt him.
A New Beginning. Jonah moves to New York City with Troy, excited about his first real home.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Time will tell.

Khadra's response to Troy about his potential as a father.

2:18WatchNov 19, 2022

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