Trying to find a family member??? PLEASE HELP.?

Question

He's actually my father even though I'm white and hes black. Well my mother won't tell me anything about him these are all the things I know.

I'm guessing between 30-45 years old.(my mom is 38)

male

black*african american

his name is travis

he spent 9 years in prision

the last my mom knew he only had 2 kids.

some states i'm guessing he could be is Indiana (mother lives there) Michigan(I live here) or Illinois.

I really need to find him and my family won't help me. He used to beat up my mom and stuff so I'm guess he went to prison for something of that nature. Where do I start? Where can I go to find him? Thanks

Answer 1

Last note first:  I would start with my own date of birth, my age, that of my mother, and my place of birth.  The chances are he is still in the same area you were born in, if your mother didn't move before you were born.  That would likely give you the police or sheriffs department and courts involved.  His case is public record somewhere.  I would start there or get a PI in that area.  Let people know if you have a medical need as that may open access into medical records in some cases.  

As noted by others, start with his name on your birth certificate.  If you have the bucks take that to a qualified private investigator.  With a prison record he may be just a click away on the right data base.

If you don't get a direct hit within hours you will probably get enough paper trail to track him.  He may have a credit history which can be found.  What you need most is his full name, date of birth and place of birth.

You can for a fee, and some free, access some data base tracking services yourself; if you have the time.  I don't have any current recommendations.  He may not be a sexual offender, but check that area data base anyway.  

If you start to do this yourself read up on how to "Skip Trace" You will also find good info on how people are traced by reading on-line about how to become a private investigator, and what they do. etc. Keep detailed notes as you go.

Don't get side tracked into genealogy roots at this point.

Type in "missing person searches" on Yahoo and have a look.  Then read up on skip tracing --  good luck.

Answer 2

First of all, Your father's last name is required. If you know it, go to http://www.ifasc.org/eng-form.html and send a message to the Florida based, International Bureau of Special Investigations. I know they'll do everything they can to help you locate your father.

Second. if you are under age 18, you will need an adult to authorize you to request their services. It's not fair, but that's the law.

Third. Maybe you should listen to your family. They may be angry at your father for what he did, but you sure gave some reasons as to why to recommend you to stay away from him.

Answer 3

Is he not named on your birth certificate?  Can't you start there?  At least with a full name you might have a chance.  Without a surname and no-one in the family willing to help you with information I would imagine you are basically screwed.  Possibly if your mom ever reported her beatings to the police or went to the doctor one or the other might have a record of his name, but they're unlikely to tell you anything because of data protection laws.  It is a word or phrase many genealogists start getting hit with when trying to find out about living relatives.  It just isn't that easy.

Unless you needed bone marrow or something, he doesn't sound like the kind of person I'd want to find in any case!

Answer 4

Surname is the first start when your looking for your roots.