A 6-year-old California boy abducted from an Oakland park in 1951 has been reunited with his family after more than 70 years. Luis Armando Albino, now a retired grandfather and Vietnam veteran, was located by his determined niece Alida Alequin thanks to an online DNA test, old newspaper records, and family photos.
Despite initial difficulties in contacting Albino, Alequin eventually found him on the East Coast in 2024. The similarities between their family photos and adult images of Albino online were enough to spark a new missing persons case and involve the FBI and Department of Justice.
Albino’s mother, who held out hope for her son’s return until her passing in 2005, never stopped searching for him. The emotional reunion between Albino and his long-lost family included meeting his brother, who passed away just before the reunion.
While the missing persons case is now officially closed, the investigation into Albino’s kidnapping remains open. This heartwarming tale highlights the power of determination and technology in reuniting families after decades apart.