A man abducted as a child in 1951 while playing in a California park has been found after more than 70 years, thanks to the efforts of his niece, an online DNA test, and old newspaper clippings. Luis Armando Albino, now a retired firefighter and Marine Corps veteran, was reunited with his California family in June after living his entire adult life on the US east coast.
Albino was just six years old when a woman lured him from a park in West Oakland, promising him candy. She abducted him and took him to the east coast, where he was raised by another couple. His family, devastated by his disappearance, never stopped searching. His mother, who passed away in 2005, always believed her son was alive.
Albino’s niece, Alida Alequin, began investigating her uncle’s disappearance in 2020 after a DNA test showed a match with a man who turned out to be Albino. With the help of old newspaper articles and the Oakland police, her efforts led to the family’s emotional reunion.
In June 2023, Albino was finally reunited with his family, including his sister and brother. Though his brother Roger passed away in August, the two were able to meet and share memories of the past, including the day of Albino’s kidnapping. Alequin expressed her determination in finding her uncle and hopes her story can inspire other families to continue their searches.
