In 1951, 6-year-old Luis Armando Albino (above, right) was abducted from a park in West Oakland, Calif., where he had been playing alongside his brother Roger, who was 10 at the time. The woman who abducted him managed to lure him away with the promise of buying him some candy. Luis was then flown across the country, where he was raised in New York by a couple as if he was their own son. Luis’ biological mother never stopped hoping that he might one day turn up safe and well. Tragically, she passed away in 2005 at the age of 92 without ever learning what had happened to her son. A breakthrough in the case came earlier this year when Luis’ inquisitive and persistent niece, 63-year-old Alida Alequin, used DNA testing and information from local newspaper clippings in her search for the truth. Oakland police say her efforts played an integral role in finding her uncle. Luis appeared to have led quite the life, having worked as a firefighter and served in the Marine Corps, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. Alida was able to organize a reunion for her two uncles — Luis, 79, and Roger, 83. It was the first time the pair had seen each other in 73 years. Frustrating for Luis, the people who raised him in New York refused to answer any questions about why he was abducted, but he says they treated him well. The people Luis believed were his parents have since died. Although the missing persons case is now closed, the FBI says the kidnapping is still an open investigation.
Boy Abducted in 1951 at the Age of 6 Is Found Alive
In 1951, 6-year-old Luis Armando Albino (above, right) was abducted from a park in West Oakland, Calif., where he had been playing alongside his brother Roger, who was 10 at the time. The woman who abducted him managed to lure him away with the promise of buying him some candy. Luis was then flown across the country, where he was raised in New York by a couple as if he was their own son. Luis’ biological mother never stopped hoping that he might one day turn up safe and well. Tragically, she passed away in 2005 at the age of 92 without ever learning what had happened to her son. A breakthrough in the case came earlier this year when Luis’ inquisitive and persistent niece, 63-year-old Alida Alequin, used DNA testing and information from local newspaper clippings in her search for the truth. Oakland police say her efforts played an integral role in finding her uncle. Luis appeared to have led quite the life, having worked as a firefighter and served in the Marine Corps, including two tours of duty in Vietnam. Alida was able to organize a reunion for her two uncles — Luis, 79, and Roger, 83. It was the first time the pair had seen each other in 73 years. Frustrating for Luis, the people who raised him in New York refused to answer any questions about why he was abducted, but he says they treated him well. The people Luis believed were his parents have since died. Although the missing persons case is now closed, the FBI says the kidnapping is still an open investigation.