This is crazy news. Why did Dr. Hicks start selling babies? Today, these babies are referred to as "Hicks babies." To date, no one knows the exact number of babies he stole and sold on the black market. Viewers can enjoy their favorite shows anytime, anywhere through TLC GO the networks TVE offering featuring live and on demand access to complete seasons. The six-part, three-night special revisits the case of Dr. Thomas J. Hicks, who sold or gave away more than 200 infants from the '40s to the '60s. 5,747, This story has been shared 5,315 times. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Writing the book gave her a "better understanding" of not only herself but her adoptive parents. Law enforcement turned a blind eye to what Hicks was doing at the time, letting him get away with trafficking newborns for years, Blasio, now a federal law enforcement officer, said. Where Was 'John Mulaney: Baby J' on Netflix Filmed? Great series. Throughout the journey, they experience epic reunions and devastating disappointments, encounter unexpected twists and turns, and break through old barriers to uncovernew evidence that may finally provide the truth for many Hicks Babies, and that could help the search for others moving forward. As a young doctor in 1917, Hicks got busted for illegally selling narcotics. TLC's 'Taken at Birth' Investigates Black Market Adoption Ring That Illegally Placed 200 Babies. Legal Statement. Why People Are Mocking Madonnas Unfiltered Photos, Justin Bieber Suspected As The Father Of Kourtney Kardashian's Son Reign (Instead Of Scott Disick), Why Tom Cruise Has 'Chosen Not To See' His Daughter For 11 Years. In the series, the victims, dubbed "Hicks Babies," team up with a group of investigators to search for answers. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. As Kelly works, stylist to the stars Sam Saboura who [], ABCs charmingly hilarious new comedy American Housewife stars Katy Mixon as a lovably imperfect woman struggling to raise her family. (Revell). Dr. Thomas J. Hicks is the "bad guy" featured in a three-part docuseries titled Taken At Birth. Abortion wouldn't be legal until 1973, when the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision determined that abortions were, indeed, legal. Im so thankful for the DNA registries and how DNA technology has moved forward so much. This special event shows a different side of TLC, while embodying the heart, hope and human connection that speaks directly to our viewers.. She's also been helping those sold out of the clinic "a lot of whom didn't know they were adopted" get in touch with their birth families. This secret not only shocked her but it sent Jane on a mission looking for her birth parents. However, its important to point out that season one only covered a few of the hundreds of Hicks Babies cases. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. He got his licensed revoked because he was caught performing an abortion. Did OJ Simpson's Son Jason Kill Nicole Brown & Ron Goldman? Here's When It Returns With New Episodes, Drew Barrymore Halts Segment After "Severely Old" Mac and Cheese Noodle Flies off Her Desk: "It's Rock Hard". Stream It Or Skip It: 'Tom Jones' On PBS, A Romance-Focused Adaptation Of Henry Fielding's Novel, Stream It or Skip It: 'Spring Breakthrough' on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Proves We Need More Keesha Sharp, Stream It or Skip It: 'Hearts in the Game' on Hallmark Just Might Be the Network's Movie of the Year. Investigator Jane Blasio works alongside Lisa Joyner and Chris Jacobs to uncover the truth . Will There Be A 'Taken At Birth' Season 2? - Decider As a result of her profile, more than 200 "Hicks babies" came forward. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, In 1950s and 60s rural United States many desperate young women who found themselves unexpectedly pregnant thought they had found answers in advertisements for abortion and adoption on phone booths, bus stations, and bridges. After binge-watching all seven episodes of the Netflix series, we started looking for an equally bonkers show, and thats when we stumbled upon Taken at Birth, which is bound to become your next conversation starter. Jane Blasio (left) and sister (Credit: Jane Blasio), "He knew what he was doing," the author said of her father's decision to purchase a baby from the clinic. Mausoleum Break-In. All rights reserved. Dr. Hicks served as a town doctor in McCaysville, Ga., and was known for performing abortions, which were illegal at the time. How many episodes were there? 7.5 /10 Rate Browse episodes Top-rated 1 Season 2019 Videos 1 Trailer 2:02 Watch Taken At Birth Photos Add photo Top cast Edit Lisa Joyner Self advertisements for abortion and adoption on phone booths, bus stations, and bridges. So the existence of black market babies in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s seemed like a foregone conclusion to those who were alive and raisedduring that time. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. The author has spent the past 20 years investigating the clinic and its impact on the so-called "Hicks babies.". Taken at Birth Live Stream: How to Watch the TLC Show Online '", Ana Navarro Jokes About Sara Haines' White House Correspondents' Dinner Antics on 'The View': "Maybe There Will Be a Restraining Order", Sunny Hostin Opens Up About Receiving Hurtful Emails on The View: Im Not Liked By Half The Country, Sunny Hostin Shades Meghan McCain for Scathing Column About 'The View': "Our Show Is a Wonderful Place". Jane didn't care what "black market" or "adoption" meant at the age of six. So many were illegally adopted, the courts decided to not place them back w/their biological parents and their adoption files were sealed. Abortion is legaltoday (though whether that remains to be true depends on that weird Supreme Court we have right now), but black markets for babies still exist in the United States. Plus, Chris makes another discovery about Dr. Hicks. In all, hundreds of babies were born and illegally sold out of Hicks Community Clinic in McCaysville, Ga., in the early 1950s to mid 1960s, their real identities completely erased. In 1997, the shocking news story broke, revealing that . Two hundred babies? 7,782, This story has been shared 5,747 times. This would be the time it would be almost impossible to hide a pregnancy. Taken At Birth - TLC UK In the 1950s and 60s a small-town Georgia family doctor illegally sold hundreds of babies from the back door of his practice. This testimony is borne out by another story that focuses on John Stapleton, another "Hicks Baby." Each two-hour episode is punctuated with raw, emotional reunions that often turn bittersweet. Sallie & the Hicks babies learn the DNA results. What Time Does 'Yellowjackets' Season 2, Episode 6 Air On Showtime? 1,952, This story has been shared 1,745 times. 13,172, This story has been shared 7,782 times. By what name was Taken at Birth (2019) officially released in India in English? 'Taken at Birth' Season 2 on Hulu? What We Know About the Documentary All rights reserved. Word of mouth was enough to garner him a steady stream of interested clients. They stated that the adoptive parents were called and told they had to be there in 12 hours. With adoption fees ranging anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 per child, Guatemalas market of children resulted in a multi-billion dollar global business. 2,880, This story has been shared 1,965 times. At the helm is lead investigator Jane Blasio, the youngest of the known Hicks Babies,whose resolve helped break the story, and who has since dedicated her life to finding out the truth. Your gift helps provide this important denominational gathering space for every person and family in the CRC. Standing between Jane, Lisa, and Chris and the truth are long-since buried secrets, and without any known medical records, they have their work cut out for them. Pic credit: TLC. "That was a point of contention from the time I was old enough to understand what he had done.". At the time he died, Hicks was without a medical license, having surrendered it to avoid prosecution following his 1964 arrest for performing abortions. About 20 minutes into the first segment ofTaken At Birth, one of Dr. Hicks' grandchildren talked about this time in the United States, and said that her grandfather, who was performing abortions at a time that it was highly illegal in the United States, would sometimes recommend that mothers carry their babies to term and subsequently give them away so as to avoid the stigma of having an abortion. "There are over 200 other Hicks babies with the same questions.". Taken at Birth airs on TLC October 9-11 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/PT. Although he lost his medical license as a result, Hicks passed away at age 83 without fully being held accountable for his actions. ", IPHONE PHOTO HELPS MOM DISCOVER HER SON'S RARE EYE CANCER. Were there more than that? I have to find them.. Sonya VanderVeen Feddema. This lucrative, black-market baby operation was the work of Dr. Thomas Hicks, an abortion doctor well-known for being able to fix female problems for about $100. There is another leg to this Baby/abortion market in another town in North Carolina not far from the Hicks Clinic. Taken at Birth - Other Candid Reality Shows - PRIMETIMER Buried Truth | Taken At Birth. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. As we kick March to the curb, we prepare to welcome Bong Joon-hos Oscar-winning film Parasite (April 8), the final season of Future Man (April 3), and the beloved 2009 classic Zombieland to Hulu. Stream now on discovery+. Plus, Chris and Hicks' granddaughter . Blasio's father was a police officer who "knew right from wrong," though he eventually got his first felony. Will there be another season of Taken At Birth? An exclusive clip is above. TLC Taken at Birth | JaneBlasio Blasio blew the whistle back in the 1990s. The six-part, three-night special revisits the case of Dr. Thomas J. Hicks, who sold or gave away . Blasio went on to tell hosts Lisa Joyner and Chris Jacobs best known for their work onLong Lost Family that her father, who was a former police officer,knew that something was shady about it all, but kept his mouth shut. I believe that he was calling them before some of these babies were born, inducing labor and handing these fragile preterm infants over in exchange for what in todays prices would be around $7500.00. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Taken at Birth" has found new life. Taken At Birth will share the untold stories of the "Hicks Babies," the name given to more than 200 newborn babies illegally sold or given away from the back steps of a small-town Georgia clinic run by Dr. Thomas J. Hicks during the 1950s and 1960s. 'Succession' Season 4 Finale Date: When Is the Last Episode? He reportedly performed abortions, which were illegal at the time, for $100. Why couldn't she learn anything about the adoption process or her birth parents? Even today, in 2020, we still have a long way to go when it comes to making social strides for women's benefit. But considering the series was billed as a "special event," I'd say a Season . She didnt have knowledge of what Dr. Hicks had been doing, and she did not have an allegiance to him or his family, Blasio says. Although the series became pretty popular with the fans, it was originally only meant to have a limited run and no plans for any additional episodes have been announced. I have a sister and three brothers on that side., But with knowledge also comes some closure. Dr. Thomas Hicks apparently convinced more than 200 pregnant mothers that their babies had either died or that they should put them up for adoption, claiming he found suitable parents. Having dedicated her life to learning the truth about Hicks and serving as the lead investigator in this case, Blasio was able to find her birth parents through DNA registries. Since the undercover operation was exposed, many Hicks Babies have desperately searched for their origins, yet decades later, they are still looking for their birth parents. RELATED: Grandma Learns the Sinister Story About Her Abduction 40 Years Ago. The stories are chronicled in the 2019 TLC documentary "Taken at Birth," the recently-released book "Taken at Birth" written by Hicks baby and researcher Jane Blasio and also told in July's People Magazine. Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario. Were some mothers misled into believing their babies were stillborn when they were actually alive? For over 50 years this small town has been hiding a shocking secret. A father of three who was married to a Baptist Sunday school teacher, Hicks died at age 83 in 1972, long before Blasios digging led to the first headlines about the scandal in 1997. Premiering on TLC in October of 2019, the six-hour special follows the story of the Hicks Babies, the name given to more than 200 newborn babies illegally sold by a small-town Georgia clinic during the 1950s and 1960s. Keep scrolling for all the details on Taken at Birth on TLC. The TLC special unites Blasio with Lisa Joyner and Chris Jacobs, hosts of the networks Long Lost Family reality show, in an effort to pierce the secrecy and broken biological ties that still surround many of the Hicks Babies, of which Blasio, born in 1965, appears to be the last and the youngest. But it's safe to say thatin the 1940sthings were infinitely worse for women. Top notch. His motivation for this? American society has never been kind to women. And now the babies want answers. Thanks to the show's Hulu debut, the series is generating buzz, so a second season isn't out of the question. Lead investigator Jane Blasio is joined by Lisa Joyner and Chris Jacobs to find closure for those stolen babies. Related: TV Guide Magazines Ileane Rudolph takes a closer look at the three JonBent Ramsey specials on our sister site, TVInsider.com. The charges against him were dropped, and he continued practicing medicine for a while before his death in 1972 at 83-years-old.