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Exploring Life & Business with Julie Dixon Jackson of CutOff Genes Investigations

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Dixon Jackson.

Hi Julie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an Adoptee. When I was in my twenties I found my biological mother. It was an easy reunion. She lives in Australia – where I was born. After having my own children in my thirties, I had a realization about how important it was for me – and my descendants to know my full family history. That was also when I started realizing that there was trauma that all people suffer when removed from their biological mother immediately after birth. This was the beginning of my “coming out of the fog” – a term commonly used in the adoptee sphere, describing our realization that our adoption was not as straightforward as we were lead to believe – and that the adoption “for profit industry” is woefully lacking in education and services for adoptees. There’s also the fact that most states in the U.S. still refuse access to Adoptee’s own Original Birth Certificates, Medical History and identity. I began searching for my Biological Father in the early 2000s. My mother had given me his name-and a maternal aunt gave me even more information as my grandparents had been friends. The search was long and difficult – but many years later, after some deep detective work, I found him. He was responsive and 6 months later I flew to Australia to meet my father, siblings, and extended family. I was, by then, an experienced genealogist. I had six separate family reunions across two states and shared my genealogical findings with them. On the one visit I had with my father, I collected a vial of saliva to send to 23&me.

Six weeks after returning home I was notified that the DNA results were in. I was shocked to learn that my “father” shared absolutely no DNA with me. He was NOT my father. Everyone was shocked – including my mother – who was sure that it was him. She swore (still does) that there had never been anyone else. I tested her husband – thinking there had been some sort of date mix-up – but he was also not my father.

Over the next two years, I took DNA tests at every consumer testing service – hoping for a close enough match to be able to figure it out. During this period I immersed myself in learning how Genetic Genealogy works and has become vital in providing answers for millions of Adoptees, Donor Conceived People and anyone experiencing genealogical bewilderment.

In 2016, a 2nd cousin match appeared on Ancestry DNA. With the help of some pioneers in the industry, I eventually learned who my father was. He had died 8 years earlier – but I connected with one of his children who agreed to test and we finally confirmed that he was my half-brother. I began helping other adoptees find their truth. Before long, I realized that I had a passion and inextricable skill for Genetic Genealogy.

I started my Podcast “CutOff Genes” around the same time I began working with Private Investigators. I worked with a PI for a couple of years, transforming his company because he hadn’t yet tapped into the importance of Genetic Genealogy. While the job security was nice, I faced many ethical quandaries due to my employer’s exploitative approach to clients and biological families.

A little over a year ago I launched CutOff Genes Investigations. While it’s never easy starting from scratch, I have greater gratification connecting with fellow adoptees, NPEs and those with genetic mysteries. It feels good to be able to provide a much more affordable service and to be able to advise my clients based on my lived experience and peer-reviewed research.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I am here BECAUSE of the struggles.

At the same time my circuitous search was happening, my (adoptive) father began suffering severe health issues. I was his medical proxy. I was met with resistance and aggression by a couple of other people in his life, including my adoptive brother. It was five months of extreme stress in trying to respond to my father’s wishes for his continued care. He died, partially because of the resistance of these other parties to get him care in a timely manner. (It’s a long story – so I won’t get specific here). Following his death, I was sued by my brother and my father’s “lady friend” – for Elder Abuse and Undue Influence. It was absurd – but I wasn’t too concerned as I had done nothing wrong and had witnesses and documentation. Jon Stewart recently said, “Never mistake absurdity for lack of danger”.

Long story short – I lost. Although I had the truth on my side, the opposing counsel painted me as “the ungrateful adoptee”. They used my story of searching for and finding biological family, speaking publicly about relinquishment/adoption trauma, and advocating for truth for all adoptees – as a way to convince a jury that I was not a good daughter and therefore must have not loved my father enough to act in his best interests.

It was devastating. Not because I was stripped of my children’s inheritance – but because 12 strangers were so easily swayed due to the common narrative that “adoption is beautiful”, “adoptees should be nothing but grateful” and “searching for your genetic truth means you don’t love the people who raised you”.

I had diagnosed PTSD (still do) and had suicidal ideations. My children witnessed a complete mental health breakdown. I knew that I had to do something to save myself and my family.

That’s when I started the podcast. I knew if I didn’t somehow create something good from all of this bad that my trauma may get the best of me. Cutoffgenes.com and Cutoff Genes Investigations started as a way to educate about the use of consumer DNA testing to find truth, but also explore the complicated path of the adoptee experience and try to work towards changing the general accepted societal narrative about adoption.

We’ve been impressed with CutOff Genes Investigations, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
CutOff Genes Investigations is unique because I have been there. I understand the ins and outs. There can be complicated feelings of all parties involved and I have seen it all. As an adoptee who has experienced two reunions – twenty-five years apart – I have insight on the differences, what to expect – and also the inevitable probability of not being able to predict outcomes.

I am both an adoptee AND an NPE/MPE (not parent expected/misattributed parentage event). Consumer DNA testing has changed everything. There are massive amounts of people who have suddenly discovered a secret that was previously unprovable. On top of that, as an experienced Investigative Genealogist, I have clients who are just curious about their family tree. I use DNA to build back my client’s trees – often several generations. I can prove or disprove family stories (eg. Cherokee Princess….spoiler alert – there’s no such thing).

Because I’m a one-person operation I usually charge a third of the price (a flat rate) that my previous employer charges their clients. My clients get the exact same personalized service that I provided with that company – but there aren’t multiple “middle men”. It’s just me. I have lived what my clients have lived.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love living in Los Angeles. I’m always dazzled by the fact that to get to Hollywood I can take a quick trip through what appears to be a lush mountainous forest in the middle of this massive city. I love the accessibility to art, to the ocean and the mountains. I love that my children have been raised in such a multicultural environment. Some favorite shopping areas are Tujunga Village, Burbank’s Magnolia Park (especially Audrey K Boutique) and Toluca Lake Village. Love Brews Brothers Brew Pub and Tony’s Darts-Away. Also, you can’t go wrong with The Smoke House.

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