Boy abducted from California at age 6 found alive more than 70 years later

In 1951, 6-year-old Luis Armando Albino was abducted while playing in a park in Oakland, California, an event that shook the community and left his family searching for answers. Seven decades later, Albino has finally been reunited with his family, thanks to an online DNA test, old photographs, and newspaper archives.

Albino’s niece, Alida Alequin, spearheaded the search that ultimately led to the discovery of her long-lost uncle, now a retired firefighter and Marine Corps veteran living on the East Coast. The Bay Area News Group reported that Alequin, along with the assistance of Oakland police, the FBI, and the Justice Department, was able to locate her uncle earlier this year.

The 1951 abduction occurred when a woman, speaking in Spanish, lured Albino from a West Oakland park with promises of candy. Instead, she kidnapped him and took him to the East Coast, where he was raised by a couple who treated him as their own child.

Despite an extensive search effort at the time, involving police, soldiers, and even the Coast Guard, Albino remained missing for over 70 years. His family, especially his mother, never gave up hope, with his photo hanging in relatives’ homes for decades.

The first breakthrough came in 2020 when Alequin took an online DNA test for fun. The test revealed a 22% match with a man, who later turned out to be her uncle. Although initial efforts to connect were unsuccessful, Alequin renewed her search in 2024. With help from old newspaper clippings and microfilm at the Oakland Public Library, she was able to reopen the investigation with Oakland police.

In June 2024, after Albino provided a DNA sample, investigators confirmed his identity. Luis was reunited with his California family later that month. During their reunion, Albino shared a heartfelt moment with his older brother, Roger, who had been playing with him at the park on the day of the kidnapping. The two discussed their lives and their shared military service, which had unknowingly paralleled each other.

Although Luis returned to the East Coast, he spent a three-week visit with his family in July, which was his final time seeing Roger, who passed away in August.

Reflecting on the long journey to find her uncle, Alequin emphasized perseverance. “I was always determined to find him,” she said, adding that her story could inspire other families facing similar heartache. “I would say, don’t give up.”