'55 Kidnap Victim's Kin: We Hope It's Him

(CBS/ AP)  The same chubby cheeks. The same round face and bright, blue eyes. And, most important, the faint scar on his chin.

James Robert Barnes, of Kalkaska, Mich., does indeed bear a striking resemblance to photos of a 2-year-old boy who was snatched from outside a bakery on New York's Long Island in 1955. And he hopes DNA tests will confirm the suspicions he's harbored virtually his entire life -- that the couple who raised him were not his biological parents.

And the family who lost their boy back in 1955 is getting their hopes up that Barnes is actually the missing toddler, Stephen Damman.

Matt Greer, the nephew of the child who went missing more than 50 years ago, said on The Early Show Thursday, that his family received a letter from Barnes months ago saying Barnes suspected he might be their relative.

Greer, who is the son of the sister of the abducted boy, read Barnes' letter, said there was "a big moment of silence" when he read that Barnes believed he might be the missing child.

"Basically (my mother and I were) just trying to realize what was going on, and that this could possibly be him. It was a shock for both of us," Greer said.

He said his mother and Barnes have developed a relationship, talking regularly with each other. Greer said his mother hopes Barnes turns out to be the missing boy.

"She loved Stephen," Greer said. " ... But she loves him, and she's always wanted to see him come home and be with his family."

Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith asked Greer if his family has considered the possibility that Barnes' claim may turn out to be a hoax.

Greer said his first thought when he read the letter from Barnes was that it could be, and that his family has discussed it. But Greer added that Barnes didn't seem to want anything, except a phone call saying whether the family saw any similarities or had any information.

But Greer told Smith that, until authorities tell him Barnes is actually his relative, "it's just not the time" for him to have a relationship with him.


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