Identical Triplet Brothers Separated At Birth In ‘Cruel’ Experiment Only Reunited After Chance Encounter

Born to a teenage mother in July 1961, Robert Shafran, Edward Galland, and David Kellman were adopted by three different families.

This separation was part of a controversial study on nature versus nurture led by Dr. Peter Neubauer. 

The study deliberately placed Robert, Edward, and David into families of varying socioeconomic backgrounds—working-class, middle-class, and upper-middle-class, respectively. 

The adoption agency later justified the separation by citing the difficulty of placing all three in one home.

Unknown to them, Dr. Neubauer conducted annual studies on each brother for the first decade of their lives, never revealing the existence of their siblings. 

The brothers remained oblivious to each other's existence until a accidental meeting in their teenage years. 

Both Robert and Edward attended Sullivan Community College, where a mutual friend noticed their striking resemblance and discovered their shared adoption history. 

This made national headlines, which David, the third brother, came across. 

Realizing that he looked just like the two long-lost brothers, he contacted Edward's mother, Telling her he believed he was also related to Edward and Robert.

Years later, it was revealed that their separation was part of Dr. Neubauer's experiment, a revelation that continues to draw criticism and outrage. 

Their story gained renewed attention with the 2018 release of the documentary "Three Identical Strangers." 

Many have expressed their shock and empathy on Reddit, with comments praising the documentary's compelling narrative but also expressing heartbreak over the unethical experiment.

One person recently wrote: "I’m a triplet myself and can’t even imagine the mess they were put through."

"The documentary is so good," another added. "It’s heartbreaking and disgusting but a very good watch."

Another person labelled the ordeal as 'horrific'.

Tragically, the brothers' lives were marred by mental health struggles. 

Both Edward and David spent time in mental health facilities, and Edward tragically ended his life at 33 in 1995 after discovering the true reason behind their separation. 

"Three Identical Strangers" provides a poignant look into their lives and is available for streaming on Hulu.