A man is shocked to see a picture of himself on a website for missing children.

After more than three decades, one man’s self-discovery led to an amazing revelation, defying the odds and giving hope. Philadelphia software salesman Steve Carter, 35, found himself on a missing children’s website and was surprised to find himself featured. This accidental discovery started a yearlong search for his past.

Carter’s life changed when he investigated his roots. He had always wondered who he was after being adopted at four from a Honolulu orphanage. Carter was inspired to investigate his own mysterious past by Carlina White, an Atlanta woman who found her baby picture on the same website and discovered she had been kidnapped as an infant.

He started his search at Missingkids.com. A photo of himself as an infant was used to create an age-progression image, which surprised him. Carter recognized the baby as himself and contacted the Honolulu Police Department to investigate.

In February 2011, DNA testing revealed his birth name, Marx Panama Moriarty Barnes. His biological father, Mark Barnes, reported him missing over 30 years ago after his mother, Charlotte Moriarty, took him for a walk and never returned. Carter was placed in the Hawaiian orphanage under mysterious circumstances.

In February 2011, DNA testing revealed his birth name, Marx Panama Moriarty Barnes. His biological father, Mark Barnes, reported him missing over 30 years ago after his mother, Charlotte Moriarty, took him for a walk and never returned. Carter was placed in the Hawaiian orphanage under mysterious circumstances.

Robert Lowery, executive director of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, encourages those with past doubts to visit their website, calling Carter’s story “a happy ending to a story that usually isn’t a happy ending.” This remarkable journey of self-discovery gives Steve Carter hope that mysteries can be solved and reunions can happen despite all odds after decades.