Father, Son Meet for First Time While Working at Same Police Department

Feb. 13, 2009 — -- A cosmic coincidence and some detective work led Petersburg, Va., police Sgt. Chris Walker to the father he never knew he had.

A couple of years ago, Walker's mother had confessed to him that the man named on his birth certificate was not his real father. She told him that she became pregnant during a brief relationship with a man named Clayton Hamilton. Hamilton was only 15 at the time and Walker's mother, a few years older, was separated from her husband. She returned to her husband and Hamilton never knew he had a son.

Walker, 37, was eager to find his biological father but was having no luck.

Enter retired police detective Clay Hamilton, 53, who, six months ago, joined the suburban Petersburg Police Department after he retired from the Richmond, Va., department, just 20 miles away.

"I heard people calling him Clay and his last name was Hamilton, and I thought it quite a coincidence," Walker told WRIC-TV, ABC's Richmond affiliate.

Another tip off? The men bore an uncanny resemblance to each other.

But while talking one day, Hamilton told Walker his name was short for Claiborne, not Clayton. Walker thought maybe he'd hit another dead end, but he was unwilling to let it go.

After doing some more digging, Walker told Hamilton his suspicions. They took a paternity test about a week ago that confirmed they were father and son.

The incredible connection has been emotional for both men, but they have formed a strong bond and are getting to know each other's families. Walker has a 5-year-old son with his wife; Hamilton and his wife have a 12-year-old son, a 35-year-old daughter and a granddaughter, 8.

"We don't have any problems hugging," Hamilton told WRIC-TV reporter Kim Schunacher. "Chris calls me Dad and I love that. I get along very well with his family."