Death row inmate's letter to teen reveals surprise | Forensic Files

when I received the letter it was a shock and I was just like who is this man you know I'd always grew up thinking
that another man was my dad and then to know that my dad was in prison at that time I didn't know if he was guilty of
it or not I wrote him back and um pretty much asked him who he was I asked him you know little detailed questions about
you know what kind of music do you like um what sports do you like when I wrote the letter I I had addressed him as as
Dad I didn't feel that calling him Damon would be respectful he asked me not to call him dad because he didn't feel that
that was a title he deserved I pretty much said to myself well you don't have a say
I'm going to call you Dad anyway we were in Louisiana to be there for him when he
got out the worst part of it was the waiting the 24 hours before I got to meet him the first
time I met my dad he said hey boy give me a hug it felt unreal in in a sense because it was something that I had
anticipated for so long I never forget that Sunday night we sat down and watched the Pats play uh the Giants that
night we went and got pizza and Coke just changed a little I didn't have phone conversations with him before so I
didn't even know what his voice was like how often do do you and your dad speak now probably once once or twice a week
now but by the time we get done talking it's been about 2 and a half hours

When Josh Thibodeaux was 14 he got a letter out of the blue from the father he never knew. Here he talks about his reaction to that letter and what it was like to finally meet his dad in person for the first time.

Brief Summary

A son reconnects with his imprisoned father, navigating complex emotions and redefining their relationship.

Key points

A Letter That Changed Everything. Receiving a letter from his father revealed shocking truths about his family.
First Meeting with Dad. The emotional first encounter with his father after years of separation.

Episode highlights

First Meeting with DadThe emotional first encounter with his father after years of separation.“Hey boy, give me a hug.”1:03Mar 30, 2014

Episode quotes

I didn't know if he was guilty or not.

Reflecting on his father's imprisonment.

0:12WatchMar 30, 2014

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