They checked out how? Using the DNA projects at FTDNA which only show Y or MTDNA results? You will only know the true answer if everyone who claims Melungeon heritage has done autosomal testing; have been able to download their raw data and have had the data analyzed. I think it has become pretty clear over the years that the word Melungeon has come to mean tri-racial or multiracial. Tracing ones Y or MTDNA doesn't tell you much and using it to determine a persons ethnic mix is not a good idea. Why do you think so many who claim Native American ancestry refuse to do DNA testing, especially STR testing? They do not want those STR results used against them when it comes to tribal acceptance. For me those Y and MTDNA projects at FTDNA have little to no use, especially the MTDNA ones. My MTDNA haplogroup is H3h. I have well over 1000 MTDNA matches and I don't recognize any of the surnames nor do I know how any of them, other than my nephew, is related.