When Avery Klein bought a faded old photograph on a whim, she expected a typical addition to her 19th-century archives. What she didn’t expect was a spine-tingling encounter with the past that left both her—and millions of internet viewers—questioning coincidence, connection, and maybe even reincarnation.
A Face from the Past—and a Striking Familiarity
Scrolling through eBay can feel like time travel for Avery Klein, known on TikTok as @thedeaddetective, but one particular listing in September halted her in her tracks. The photograph featured a young woman named Sarah Somes, whose “surprisingly similar” features to Klein’s wife, Casey—especially the eyes—sparked an immediate sense of déjà vu. Klein told Newsweek, “There was an instant sense of familiarity. I turned my computer toward my wife, who was sitting next to me on the couch, and she giggled and shrugged. I come across doppelgängers almost daily in my work, so it didn’t initially strike me as anything unusual. But once I clicked away from the listing, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. A minute later, I bought the photograph and told my wife I had to get it, still not thinking too deeply about why the face felt so familiar.”
Klein isn’t your average antique photo enthusiast. For the past three years, she’s made a name for herself by identifying people captured in 19th-century images, a passion supported by a 2025 grant from Tulsa’s Artist Creative Fund. Hunting for hidden stories online—and regularly acquiring antique portraits—is part of her archival project.
A Detective’s Research Uncovers Unexpected Links
After bringing Sarah Somes’ photo home in September, Klein put it aside until November, when curiosity lured her deeper. The surname Somes matched the old studio stamp on the reverse. To Klein, this hinted at a family connection. She dug in—and research revealed that Sarah’s father, Alson Somes, operated as “A. Somes” at 149 Union Street in Schenectady, New York.
Her investigations into census records turned up more surprises:
- Alson Somes was listed as an artist.
- Seventeen-year-old Sarah was described as an artist as well, an unusual label for a young woman of her era.
- Another census listed Alson as a “Daguerreian Artist” and Sarah as an oil painter.
Klein, whose wife Casey is a painter, admitted, “I genuinely shoved [my] computer aside in shock.”
She told Newsweek she suspects Sarah worked alongside her father as an oil-paint retoucher, referencing a Schenectady city directory advertisement for “Ambrotypes, Photographs, Plain and Colored, In Oil” that seems to confirm the Somes duo created hand-colored portraits. “The combination of census descriptions and business records aligns almost too perfectly to be a coincidence,” Klein reflected.
A Viral Mystery That Captured Hearts and Imaginations
Klein’s TikTok account lit up after she posted the tale. The story has since drawn an astonishing 1.9 million likes and 10.6 million views. While Klein often encounters photographic lookalikes in her daily work, this episode “felt different.” There was an uncanny familiarity in Sarah’s eyes—a feeling she “couldn’t shake”—as though the young woman “was reaching across time, asking to be known.”
In the wake of the viral sensation, Klein found herself fielding messages from viewers eager to learn her research secrets. She’s planning to respond in style: public workshops, both in-person and online, as part of her grant project. These sessions aim to empower others in tracing their own family stories and tracing figures hiding in antique photographs.
The mystery, however, remains unsolved. The documentary trail after 1865 becomes nearly invisible. Klein confirmed that Sarah’s father passed away in January 1866 and is buried in Vale Cemetery in Schenectady—his gravestone now broken. She hopes the TikTok gravestone restoration community might one day help decipher its inscription and shine a light on whatever became of Sarah.
From Doppelgängers to Past Lives: Theories Swirl Online
Klein, still shaken by the uncanny resemblance, occasionally “gets chills” contemplating the possibility that Sarah Somes might be a past incarnation of Casey. She isn’t alone in this sentiment. The comments section burst with interpretations:
- One viewer recounted buying an old 1800s photo at a thrift store, only to meet—and later marry—a real-life lookalike three years later.
- Another user mused, “What if you actually found her in her past life too? And this is one of those ‘I’ll find my way back to you in every lifetime’ moments.”
Who knew a single eBay photo could spark tales of love lost and found, reincarnation, and a global detective hunt?
As Klein’s quest continues, one thing is clear: the boundaries between past and present feel thinner than ever. If you’ve got a mysterious photo story of your own, maybe it’s time to dust it off—there might be more to discover than you think.
Damian is an inquisitive writer with a passion for exploring diverse subjects. He loves sharing fresh perspectives, inspiring curiosity, and sparking meaningful conversations. For him, every topic is an opportunity to learn, connect, and uncover new ideas.
