Amanda Seyfried was left in shock after uncovering a startling piece of her family history on the season 11 premiere of PBS’ Finding Your Roots. The Mamma Mia! actress learned about the tragic fate of her third great-grandfather, John P. Ebert, who was murdered in 1905.
In an exclusive clip shared with PEOPLE, Seyfried, 39, reads aloud a chilling account from an old newspaper article that recounts the moment of her ancestor’s death. “He has just about reached the back door … when from between the outhouse and a grape arbor which screens it stepped a man who fired three shots at him point blank,” the article reads.
The article describes Ebert, a retired baker and respected community member, as “a good citizen and an inoffensive man.” The shocking murder took place at 9:30 p.m. near his home at Washington and Lumber Streets.
Visibly moved by the revelation, Seyfried reacts, “Oh my God, that’s so sad.” Host Henry Louis Gates Jr. affirms, “Your third great-grandfather was murdered.” When asked if she had any prior knowledge of the incident, Seyfried responds, “Nope, no. Definitely no.”
The discovery stirs up a mix of emotions for Seyfried, who reflects on her connection to the tragedy. “It’s weird — I don’t know him, but yet, he’s family,” she says. “I’m just like, ‘How dare they!’ Like, ‘Find justice.’”
Seyfried is one of several celebrities featured in the latest season of Finding Your Roots, which delves into the ancestry of its famous guests.
Other notable participants this season include Joy Behar, Kristen Bell, Laurence Fishburne, Debra Messing, Dax Shepard, Sharon Stone, Chrissy Teigen, Amy Tan, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, among others. The show continues to uncover fascinating family histories that leave both the guests and viewers in awe.