A Kissimmee genealogist is looking for the heir to a Puerto Rican fortune in Central Florida.
- Genealogist looking for heir to Puerto Rican fortune
- Jerry Cushing has been matching people with family fortunes for decades
- Latest case involves $1 million left behind
Jerry Cushing’s office in Kissimmee is filed with papers upon papers.
For nearly fifty years, he has been matching people with family fortunes they didn't know about. In his office you can hear him making phone calls.
“We have reason to believe that you would be a cousin probably of the paternal side of the family,” he said, mid-conversation.
While he still uses a magnifying glass and writes by hand his research has become easier with the help of technology. His latest case involves $1 million, money that a New York widow with Puerto Rican ties left behind.
Her name is Lydia Figueroa Ocana she passed away in 2012. She didn’t leave a will, nor did she have children. Cushing has made a family tree and so far he knows her parents’ names are Concepcion Figueroa Serrano and Aguilino Ocana Merced. The lady also had a brother Aguilino Figueroa Ocana, who served in the U.S. army during the Korean War.
Cushing doesn't know if there's any living descendants left.
“The biggest challenge I face in this business is trying to find the rightful heirs and a lot of times we’re successful and other times we hit a brick wall,” Cushing explained.
Cushing said he’s encountered a roadblock with this case as he’s having difficulties obtaining documents from the island.
“And because of the hurricane damage and damage to a lot of the infrastructure and communication etc. We’ve had no replies at all from the island,” he said.
Cushing hopes that with the more than 300,000 Puerto Ricans who have relocated to this area, someone may have a tip.
“Please contact us because we would like to see this one million dollars go to the rightful heirs instead of the state treasury,” he added.
If the heirs are found, litigation in court will take place to establish kinship through a hearing.
If you have any leads click here to contact Gerard Cushing Forensic Genealogy.