What Happened to the Boy Kidnapped in Oakland? A 70-Year Mystery Solved
- In 1954, a 6-year-old boy was kidnapped from Jefferson Square Park in Oakland, California.
- The boy, whose name is Luis Armando Albino, has now been found after being lost for nearly seven decades.
- Albino’s niece, Alida Alequin, helped find her uncle, Luis, using a DNA test.
The Incredible Story of a Kidnapped Boy Found Alive
A kidnapped boy has finally been reunited with his family after more than seventy years. This heartwarming moment has captured the attention of many. It shows the unbreakable bond of family love and how technology can bring lost loved ones back together. This incredible journey is a celebration of hope and the happiness of finding each other again.
Abduction of Luis Armando Albino
Luis Armando Albino, who is now 71, was only 6 years old when he was abducted in 1951. The incident happened on February 21, 1954, while he was playing at Jefferson Square Park in Oakland, California along with his older brother Roger. A woman approached him and promised to buy him candy. Instead of giving him candy, she kidnapped him. She took him to the East Coast, where he was raised by a couple as their child.
A Family’s Hope
Albino’s family never stopped searching for him. His mother, Antonia Albino, always believed he was still alive. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2005. However, she kept his memory alive. A photo of Luis was always displayed in their home. She also carried a newspaper clipping of his abduction in her wallet.
Also read: Pepe Aguilar talks about the horror moment when his wife was kidnapped
DNA Test
In 2020, Albino’s niece, Alida Alequin, who is 63 years old, took an online DNA test for fun. The results showed a 22% DNA match with a man who turned out to be her uncle. At first, she was unsure about the connection. In early 2024, she began searching for more information about him. During her search, she found old newspaper articles and photographs. This convinced her to contact the Oakland police.
Alida said,
“My daughter found a lot of pictures of this man, and we started comparing, The resemblance was so strong; how much he looked like my other uncles. And then another picture where he looked so much like my grandmother, that one gave me chills, and I said ‘there’s something here.”
With help from local authorities and the FBI, Alequin’s lead helped them locate Luis on the East Coast. On June 20, 2024, investigators informed Alequin and her mother that they had found him. They were overjoyed and cried tears of happiness after hearing the news. Alida also remembers her late grandmother, saying,
“I think she’s happy, honestly, she was there guiding me too, it’s just the way everything worked out, it’s unbelievable.”
She further expressed her determination to find him. Alequin believes that sharing her story could help other families in similar situations. She encourages others by saying, “Don’t give up.” Similarly, Oakland police acknowledged that Alequin’s efforts were crucial in finding her uncle. They stated that “the outcome of this story is what they strive for.”
Reunion
On June 24th, 2024, Luis traveled to Oakland to reunite with Alequin and other family members. In an interview, Alequin said her uncle hugged her. He thanked her for finding him and kissed her on the cheek. Luis met his brother Roger for the first time in decades. They embraced tightly and shared stories about their lives. After this visit, Luis returned to the East Coast. He came back again in July for three weeks. Tragically, it was the last time he saw Roger, who passed away in August.
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