Families want action after Duke fertility doctor fathered patients' kids

DNA tests reveal a late Duke fertility doctor fathered the children of multiple patients. A woman is calling on accountability from Duke Officials, and wants share the message so other patients can get the answers they need.
Posted 10/27/2025, 11:48:26 PM Updated 10/28/2025, 12:00:06 AM

COULD BE MORE VICTIMS OUT

THERE.

>> COREY CRAWFORD AND HER

HUSBAND WERE READY TO EMBARK

ON PARENTHOOD. TOGETHER.

YOUR STRESS OF TRYING TO GET

PREGNANT.

REFERRAL. THEY CAME TO DUKE

HOSPITAL TO GET INSEMINATED

BY DOCTOR CHARLES PETE. IN

2019, IT WAS HIS OWN CHILDREN

DISCOVERED THEIR MOTHER'S

FERTILITY DOCTOR.

>> WAS ACTUALLY THEIR FATHER

USING. 23 AND ME HER INITIAL

INDIFFERENCE TURNED TO

FRUSTRATION THAT YOU SHARE THE

DISCOVERY WITH DUKE. THEY HAD

NO CLUE.

INSTEAD OF SUING CROP OF CALLED

FOR REQUIRED TRAINING. THAT WAS

5 YEARS AGO. NOW SHE WANTS TO

TO DO MORE, NOTIFY ALL OF

PETE'S PATIENTS AND HELP PAY

FOR THE RESULTING CHILDREN'S

GENETIC TESTING. HE HAD SAID,

HEY, I MIGHT USE MY OWN A OKAY

WITH THAT.

THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

I TOOK THOSE CONCERNS TO DUKE

HOSPITAL DO CALLED PETE ACTIONS

UNACCEPTABLE, SAYING, QUOTE,

FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO COUNT, HAS

BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH

THOSE INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS AND

FAMILY MEMBERS. WE HAVE COME

FORWARD AND YOU HAVE DESIRED TO

SHARE INFORMATION WITH US.

BUT THE SITUATION ISN'T UNIQUE

TO CRUMP, A DUKE OR DOCTOR

PETE, THEY RESIDE IN A FIGHT

OVER 80 DOCTORS IN THE WORLD

EVE. WILEY WAS ALSO CONCEIVED

THROUGH FERTILITY DOCTORS.

DECEPTION IN ANOTHER STATE THAT

MY MOTHER'S FERTILITY DOCTOR IS

ACTUALLY MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER.

NOW SHE'S HELPED PASS

LEGISLATION TO HOLD DOCTORS

LIKE PETE AND HER BIOLOGICAL

FATHER ACCOUNTABLE.

>> MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES

HAVE ENACTED SOME TYPE OF

FERTILITY FRAUD LAWS SO FAR TO

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WANTING

TO CAPTURE THAT CRIMINAL SIDE

OF IT AS WELL. NORTH CAROLINA

HASN'T TAKEN THAT STEP. HE DIED

IN 2013 AND ACCORDING TO DUKE

ARCHIVES, HE WAS A DOCTOR THERE

FOR NEARLY 4 DECADES. HE'S

BELIEVED TO HAVE FATHERED MORE

THAN A DOZEN CHILDREN OUTSIDE

OF HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY.

THE MY BILL TO FIND MORE

>> I MEAN, WHO KNOWS HOW MANY?

>> NOW, BOTH GRAPPA AND WILEY

SAY THAT THEY WANT NORTH

CAROLINA TO TAKE SOME SOME MORE

ACTION AND PUT THIS INTO LAW.

WILEY'S ALSO WORKING ON A

FEDERAL LAW AS WELL. THAT CITY

© WRAL