Identical Triplets Separated At Birth And Raised 100 Miles Apart In Twisted Experiment That Was Kept Secret

In July 1961, triplets Robert Shafran, Edward Galland, and David Kellman were born to a teenage mother in New York.

At that time, it was common for triplets to be placed for adoption, and the three siblings ended up being adopted by separate families, which meant they were separated.

Unbeknownst to them, the triplets' adoption was part of a disturbing experiment that remained a secret for many years.

The three brothers were unaware of each other's existence until a chance meeting during their teenage years.

Edward Galland and Robert Shafran when they first met. NEON

Robert and Edward attended Sullivan Community College, oblivious to their familial connection. 

So, where does David fit into the story?

Robert and Edward's story made headlines, which David heard about.

Noticing he resembled Robert and Edward, David called Edward's home and spoke to his mother.

When they met, the three quickly bonded and became close. 

The identical triplets became inseparable upon meeting. NEON

It was later confirmed that Robert, Edward, and David were triplets, but their separation was part of a controversial experiment.

Dr. Peter Neubauer conducted a study on nature versus nurture, arranging for the triplets to be adopted by families from different social classes.

David was adopted by a working-class family, Edward went to a middle-class home, and Robert was raised by an upper-middle-class family.

As part of the experiment, Dr. Neubauer visited each of the boys every year for the first ten years of their lives, but he did not reveal that he was also seeing their two identical brothers.

Though the trio eventually reunited, their story is deeply tragic.

Brian Zak

All three brothers struggled with mental health issues, with Edward and David spending time in mental health hospitals.

Sadly, Edward took his own life at the age of 33 in 1995, after grappling with the emotional impact of their separation, despite his happiness at being reunited with his siblings.

The triplets' heartbreaking story was featured in the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers.

Discussing their story and the documentary on Reddit, 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'.