A routine DNA test intended to solve a medical mystery has exposed a decades-long fertility fraud scandal at Duke University, revealing that Dr. Charles Peete secretly fathered at least 12 children by using his own sperm instead of anonymous donors to inseminate patients during the late 1970s and 1980s.
Summer McKesson, 43, discovered the shocking truth in October 2023 while seeking answers about her life-threatening blood clots and Marfan syndrome through 23andMe genetic testing. The revelation came after years of unexplained medical complications that had left even Mayo Clinic specialists baffled.
Medical Crisis Leads to DNA Discovery
McKesson had endured years of severe breathing difficulties caused by persistent blood clotting issues affecting her heart and lungs. After numerous surgeries to remove clots and scar tissue, she underwent emergency open-heart surgery in 2022. During her recovery, her surgeon made a startling observation: the connective tissue supporting her organs was unusually stretchy and fragile.
A geneticist confirmed McKesson has Marfan syndrome, a serious inherited connective tissue disorder that affects approximately two to three people per 10,000 worldwide. Her clotting disorder was also determined to be hereditary. Both conditions are genetic, yet no one in her known family history had experienced them.
Seeking answers about her genetic health history, McKesson submitted a DNA sample to 23andMe. The results revealed something unexpected: seven half-siblings she never knew existed. “I just remember being shocked and my mind just swirling,” she told CNN. “How is this possible? Did my dad have another family or something?“
The Doctor’s Deception Uncovered
After reaching out to her newfound half-siblings through 23andMe, McKesson waited over a month for responses. One sibling eventually messaged her with a cryptic warning about Dr. Peete. As McKesson and others compared notes, a disturbing pattern emerged: all their mothers had been patients of Dr. Charles Peete at Duke University Hospital’s fertility clinic.
Dr. Charles Henry Peete Jr., who graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1947 and became an assistant professor at Duke, had systematically deceived his patients. When couples like Laurie and Doug Kruppa sought fertility treatment in 1980 due to Doug’s previous vasectomy, they were assured they would receive sperm from an anonymous medical school resident.
“At each visit, I would lay back on the table, place my feet in the stirrups, and wait for Peete to arrive,” Kruppa recounted. The couple underwent seven insemination attempts for their first daughter, two for their second, and one for their son. Unbeknownst to them, Peete had used his own sperm for all three children without their consent.
“The Product of Medical Rape”
The emotional impact on victims has been devastating. Kruppa initially felt relieved her children were biological siblings, but anger quickly set in as she reflected on Peete’s actions. “This is like getting raped by your father,” she said.
McKesson described her conception even more directly: “Ultimately, the hardest thing to process is that I was a product of a crime, that I was the product of medical rape“. The violation of trust and bodily autonomy has left victims grappling with profound identity crises and existential questions about their origins.
Life-Threatening Health Implications
The deception carries serious medical consequences beyond emotional trauma. Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic condition, meaning Peete’s biological children each had a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder. McKesson’s case demonstrates the potentially fatal consequences of not knowing one’s genetic heritage.
Without proper diagnosis and treatment, the average life expectancy for Marfan syndrome patients is approximately 45 years. However, with appropriate medical monitoring and intervention, patients can live into their 70s. Prior to modern treatments, 50% of men with Marfan syndrome died by age 40, and 50% of women by age 48.
“My hope in sharing my story is if I can find other half-siblings out there, that could save their life by knowing my medical history,” McKesson explained. She has proactively encouraged all her half-siblings to undergo genetic testing. Her insistence led to Jim Harris, another victim, being tested for Marfan syndrome, though he fortunately did not have it.
At Least 12 Victims Identified
Currently, Peete is believed to have fathered at least 12 children outside his immediate family over more than two decades. However, this figure is based solely on those who have submitted DNA samples to services like 23andMe and Ancestry. The actual number could be significantly higher as more people undergo consumer DNA testing.
Jim Harris of North Carolina learned shortly after his father’s death from cancer that his mother had used a sperm donor from Duke’s fertility clinic in 1977. Raised as an only child, Harris discovered through 23andMe that he had multiple half-siblings, all connected to Dr. Peete.
When Peete’s own daughter learned about her father’s actions, she was “stunned, shocked, and completely baffled,” expressing disbelief that he could be involved in such deception.
Part of a Nationwide Pattern
The Duke case joins a disturbing trend of fertility fraud scandals uncovered through consumer DNA testing. More than 50 fertility doctors across the United States have been accused of using their own sperm to impregnate patients. Similar cases have emerged in Indiana, Vermont, Idaho, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
Dr. Donald Cline in Indiana fathered at least 94 children through his fertility practice, while Dr. Kim McMorries in Texas fathered at least 22 children. The widespread nature of these cases suggests fertility fraud may have been far more common during the early decades of assisted reproduction when oversight was minimal and record-keeping often poor.
Legal and Regulatory Gaps
Prosecuting decades-old fertility fraud presents significant legal challenges. Dr. Peete passed away in 2013, limiting options for criminal prosecution. As of now, 14 states in the U.S. have enacted laws against fertility fraud, but North Carolina has yet to implement similar regulations. At the federal level, no statute expressly criminalizes fertility fraud, though federal prosecutors have used generally applicable fraud statutes in some cases.
Both McKesson and Kruppa have contemplated legal action against Duke University, but Peete’s death and lack of specific fertility fraud legislation have limited their options for seeking justice. While Peete’s actions would today be considered unethical and a breach of medical malpractice standards regarding informed consent, statutes of limitations and the absence of specific laws at the time complicate legal recourse.
Duke’s Response Falls Short
Since learning the truth, both McKesson and Kruppa have reached out to Duke University seeking accountability and Peete’s medical history. Initial responses from the university indicated a willingness to investigate and address the issue, including introducing an ethics course on fertility fraud.
However, as McKesson pressed for more information about Peete’s medical history—critical for understanding her own health risks—communication from the university ceased. In a statement, Duke Health officials acknowledged the unacceptable actions of an individual in their program during the late 1970s and early 1980s, emphasizing that such behavior would not be tolerated today.
“I feel like this was a chance for them to step up and do the right thing, and they have chosen not to,” McKesson stated. She expressed particular disappointment given the potential life-or-death implications for those affected, emphasizing the need for acknowledgment of the wrongs committed against patients and their families.
Speaking Out to Save Lives
Despite the emotional toll, McKesson has chosen to speak publicly about her experience to raise awareness about potential genetic health risks among her half-siblings. She has noted physical similarities with Peete’s daughters, including a shared smile.
McKesson works for Warner Brothers Discovery, the parent company of CNN, which first reported her story on October 25, 2025. Her willingness to share her experience reflects her determination to help others who may be unknowingly at risk for life-threatening genetic conditions.
“I’m trying to do the right thing,” McKesson concluded. Her story highlights both the power of consumer DNA testing to expose past medical fraud and the ongoing need for stronger regulation of the fertility industry, better record-keeping requirements, and specific legislation criminalizing fertility fraud without patient consent.
