6-Year-Old Boy Kidnapped from California in 1951 Found Alive 70 Years Later

California: Luis Armando Albino was just 6 years old in 1951 when he was kidnapped while playing in a neighbourhood in Oakland, California. Now, more than seventy years later, he has been located, thanks to an online ancestry test, old photographs, and newspaper clippings.

California Man Alive

Albino’s niece, Alida Alequin, who lives in Oakland, played a key role in the search, working alongside police, the FBI, and the Justice Department to find her uncle on the East Coast. Albino, now a father, grandfather, and retired firefighter, is also a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. Alequin successfully reunited him with his California family in June.

kidnapped from California in 1951

On February 21, 1951, a woman lured young Albino from the park with the promise of candy, speaking to him in Spanish. Instead of fulfilling her promise, she kidnapped him, taking him to the East Coast where he was raised by a couple as their own son. The specifics of his East Coast residence remain undisclosed.

For over 70 years, Albino was missing but remained cherished in his family’s hearts, with his photo displayed prominently in their homes. His mother, who passed away in 2005, never lost hope that he was alive.

Man Found After 70 Years

The Oakland police acknowledged Alequin’s significant contributions to locating her uncle, emphasising that this outcome is what they strive for in their work. In an interview, she shared a touching moment: “He hugged me and said, ‘Thank you for finding me,’ and gave me a kiss on the cheek.”

Initial reports from the time described a massive search effort involving local police, soldiers, and the Coast Guard, scouring San Francisco Bay and surrounding areas. Albino’s brother, Roger, was questioned multiple times but consistently recounted the incident of the woman in a bandana abducting Luis.

DNA Test Reveals Truth

The first hint that her uncle might still be alive emerged in 2020 when Alequin took an online DNA test for fun. The results revealed a 22 percent match with a man who turned out to be her uncle. Despite her efforts at that time, she received no further leads.

In early 2024, motivated by the earlier discovery, Alequin and her daughters resumed their search. During a visit to the Oakland Public Library, she reviewed microfilm of old Tribune articles, including one featuring a photo of Luis and Roger, which fueled her determination. She immediately approached the Oakland police with her findings.

Luis returned to the East Coast but visited again in July for a three-week stay, which would be his last time seeing Roger, who sadly passed away in August. Alequin mentioned that her uncle preferred to keep his story private and did not wish to speak to the media.

With AP Inputs