A man who was kidnapped as a six-year-old in California in 1951 has been located over seventy years later, thanks to an online ancestry test, old photos, and newspaper articles.
Luis Armando Albino was found by his niece, Alida Alequin, in Oakland, with help from police, the FBI, and the Justice Department. She discovered that her uncle was living on the East Coast. Albino, a father and grandfather, is a retired firefighter and a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. Alequin reunited him with his family in California in June.
On February 21, 1951, a woman tricked young Albino into leaving a park in West Oakland, where he was playing with his older brother. She promised him candy in Spanish but instead kidnapped him, taking him to the East Coast. There, a couple raised him as their own son, but details about where he lived were not disclosed.
For over 70 years, Albino’s family kept his memory alive, displaying his photo in their homes. His mother, who died in 2005, always hoped her son was still alive.
Oakland police noted that Alequin’s efforts were crucial in locating her uncle, and they appreciated the positive outcome. Alequin shared that when she found him, he hugged her and thanked her.
Back in 1951, a massive search for Albino involved local police, soldiers, the Coast Guard, and other city workers. His brother, Roger Albino, was questioned multiple times but maintained his story about a woman with a bandana taking his brother.
Alequin first thought her uncle might still be alive in 2020 when she took a DNA test for fun. The test showed a 22% match with a man who turned out to be her uncle. However, further searches at that time did not yield any answers.
Earlier this year, Alequin and her daughters resumed their search. While at the Oakland public library, she found old articles that included pictures of Luis and Roger, which made her believe she was on the right track. She reported her findings to Oakland police, who agreed to reopen the missing persons case.
Luis was found on the East Coast and provided a DNA sample, as did his sister, who is Alequin’s mother. On June 20, investigators informed Alequin and her mother that Luis had been located.
On June 24, Luis traveled to Oakland with the help of the FBI to meet Alequin, her mother, and other relatives. The next day, Alequin took them to meet Roger in Stanislaus County. They embraced tightly and shared stories about the kidnapping and their military experiences.
Luis returned to the East Coast but visited again in July for three weeks. Sadly, it was the last time he saw Roger, who passed away in August.
Alequin mentioned that her uncle did not wish to speak to the media. She expressed her determination to find him and hopes her story might inspire other families facing similar situations. “Don’t give up,” she advised.
