A Woman’s Quest for Family Secrets Unveils Mob Ties
In Lochgelly, Fife, Paula Colville, 60, embarked on a journey to uncover the truth about her mysterious father, Billy Elson Lawson. Raised by her mother Elizabeth in Scotland, Paula’s curiosity about her father was met with silence, until a conversation with her grandmother revealed his name when she was just 15 years old. Little did she know, this revelation would lead her down a path of discovery that would uncover her father’s secret life as a mafia informant in New York City.
The Search for Answers
Not content with the limited information she had, Paula decided to take matters into her own hands after Elizabeth’s passing. Taking a DNA test in hopes of finding any living relatives, she was surprised to find herself connected to half-sisters and half-nieces from California and New York. Together, they unraveled the shocking truth about Billy Elson Lawson’s past and his dangerous entanglement with the mafia.
A Shocking Revelation
The pieces of the puzzle started to come together as Paula learned that her father had been living under a different name, Why Wakeen, after a failed assassination attempt forced him to flee New York City. Witness protection led him to Texas, New Jersey, and eventually Arkansas, where he lived out the rest of his days in obscurity. His two marriages and divorces, his time in the American Air Force, and his ultimate demise in 2009 due to pneumonia and cancer all painted a picture of a man with a hidden past.
Building Family Bonds
Despite growing up believing she was an only child, Paula’s newfound connection with her sisters, Cherie and Lisa, brought a sense of completeness to her life. Their bond strengthened as they delved into their shared history, visiting New York City to explore their father’s past haunts and create new memories together. The sisters vowed to make an effort to see each other at least once a year, bridging the geographical and emotional gaps that once separated them.
Embracing the Surreal
As Paula reflected on the whirlwind of events that led her to her long-lost family, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for the unexpected turn of events. The surreal nature of uncovering her father’s mafia ties, meeting her sisters for the first time, and experiencing a sense of belonging in a world she never knew existed, all added layers of complexity to her already intricate family history. With plans to continue nurturing her relationship with her newfound sisters and exploring more about her father’s past, Paula embraced the imperfections and uncertainties that came with uncovering long-buried family secrets.
