Radio Topia from PRX.

Two years ago, a former detective named Angel Irizari set out on a personal investigation

to track down an uncle who had been out of touch with the family for decades.

But early in his search, he made a disappointing discovery. His uncle, Caesar, had died.

From Radio Diaries, I'm Joe Richmond, and this is the unmarked graveyard, a series untangling mysteries from America's largest public cemetery.

Each week we're bringing you stories about people buried on Heart Island, the lives they lived, and the people they left behind.

Hi, Phoebe.

There were thousands of questions.

Where's his family? Where's his people?

Neil Harris was last seen in Inwood, New York on December 12, 2014.

The playwright, novelist and author of Happy Island, Miss Dawn Powell.

You can't help but wonder what her life has been.

And that found you, she found us, and we're here.

Now we know where you are.

Today episode six, the story of Angel Irizari and his long lost uncle Caesar.

All right, this is Angel Erizari. I just received the death certificate of my uncle

Caesar.

It says the date of death was July 19th, 2020, which would have made Uncle

Caesar 64 years old. And it says, place of disposition, it's city cemetery at Hart Island.

Everything else pretty much says unknown, the usual occupation unknown kind of business unknown says mother and parents are unknown

But the truth of the matter is he does have family and he did have family. Uncle Caesar was estranged from our family, I would say about 40 to 50 years. I'm 45 years old and I only seen him one time.

I think I was probably about six or seven sitting on the floor playing with toys at my

...