This tale quickly shifts from unbelievable to extraordinary. It seems too incredible to be true, yet every detail is factual. What’s even more astounding is that the story of three identical strangers meeting and discovering their connection was just the beginning.

“I wouldn’t believe it if someone else told me, but it’s true—every bit of it. It all started when I went to college,” said Robert Shafran.

At 19, Robert began college, where people continually confused him for someone named Eddy Galland. While many of us have encountered look-alikes, this occurrence was persistent. Eventually, a friend made the connection—Robert and Eddy might be long-lost twins. Eager to find out, they arranged to meet.

Robert recalled, “I reached out to open the door, and there he was. His eyes were my eyes. My eyes were his. And it was true.” The pair were astonished by how identical they were—not just in appearance, but in their birthday, mannerisms, voice, hands, and interests.

If the story had ended there, it would still be remarkable, but this was just the start. The media picked up the twins’ reunion, publishing a story that caught the attention of David Kellman. While reading the newspaper, David spotted the photo of the ‘twins’ and saw his own face. “I think I might be the third!” David realized. Robert later reflected, “Once we got together, I felt a joy I had never experienced before. It lasted a long time.”

Even then, this wasn’t the conclusion. The triplets gained media attention, and TV host Phil Donohue, who interviewed them in the 1980s, still recalls it as the most remarkable story he’s ever covered. The brothers made appearances in shows like “Cheers” and the movie “Desperately Seeking Susan” with Madonna. They even opened a New York restaurant called “Triplets Roumanian Steak House.”

But their happiness soon gave way to the discovery of a darker truth. The triplets learned they had been separated at birth as part of a disturbing social experiment. “We were robbed of 20 years together,” David said.

The adoption agency had divided the boys among three families—one lower-income, one middle-class, and one upper-class—to study the effects of nature versus nurture. None of the adoptive parents had been asked if they’d consider adopting more than one child.

“They call us participants. We weren’t participants—we were victims,” David shared.

“How could they do this to innocent babies?” Robert asked.

A documentary titled Identical Strangers delves into the extraordinary and tragic lives of the triplets. “Seeing it in theaters really got to me—I cried like a baby,” Richard admitted. Despite the heartbreak, the film has brought attention to the injustice and strengthened the bond between the surviving brothers.