A man who was snatched from a California park as a child more than 70 years ago has recently been reunited with his loved ones, who collaborated with authorities to locate him on the East Coast.

Luis Armando Albino was kidnapped at age 6 in 1951 when a woman, pretending to be friendly, promised him candy and took him from Jefferson Square Park in West Oakland while he was with his older brother. The Mercury News, a San Jose publication, first reported this story on Saturday, highlighting how Albino’s niece played a key role in reconnecting him with his family.

Alida Alequin, 63, was inspired by a hint from an online ancestry test. She conducted a thorough search online and reviewed archival newspapers for clues about her uncle before bringing her findings to law enforcement. After discovering that Albino was living on the East Coast—his exact location remains undisclosed—this retired firefighter and Vietnam veteran returned to California to reunite with his brother and other relatives, as the Mercury News reported.

“I’m so thrilled to have accomplished this for my mom and my uncle,” Alequin expressed. “It’s a truly joyous conclusion.”

The Kidnapping of Albino in 1951

Albino’s mother brought him and five of his siblings from Puerto Rico to Oakland just one summer before he was abducted.

On February 21, 1951, a Spanish-speaking woman persuaded little Albino to leave Jefferson Square Park with promises of candy. At that time, he had not yet learned English. Instead of getting candy, he was kidnapped and taken to the East Coast, where he was raised by a couple who treated him as their son.

His mother, Antonia Albino, held onto hope that he was still alive until she passed away at the age of 92 in 2005. The Mercury News noted she kept a photo of him in her living room and that her son held onto a newspaper clipping about his brother’s kidnapping, Alequin shared with the LA Times.

“She always believed she would see him again,” Alequin said. “She never gave up on that dream.”

Niece’s Investigation Using DNA Evidence

Alequin, a resident of Oakland, took an ancestry DNA test in 2020 that revealed a 22% match to a man who would eventually turn out to be her uncle. Despite this connection, she initially did not realize it could be him.

In February, alongside her daughters, she began scouring the internet and reading through old newspaper clippings to verify if the individual from the DNA test could indeed be her missing uncle.

Feeling confident about her discovery, she reported her findings to the Oakland police, who agreed to follow up on her lead. Together with law enforcement agencies—including the FBI and the state Department of Justice—Alequin continued her quest until they managed to trace her uncle to the East Coast.

Oakland police acknowledged to the Mercury News that “Alequin’s efforts were crucial in locating her uncle” and that this story is exactly the outcome they aim for.

YSL News reached out to the Oakland police on Monday morning for a comment, but they had not responded promptly.

Albino’s Heartwarming Reunion in California

Now a father and grandfather, the once-abducted child provided a DNA sample for law enforcement, leading to confirmation of his identity, reports indicate.

Alequin received the joyous news in June when investigators visited her mother’s home to share their findings, she mentioned to multiple news platforms.

Shortly thereafter, Albino traveled to Oakland for a warm family reunion, where he met Alequin for the first time.

According to Alequin, her uncle told her, “Thank you for finding me,” as he hugged her and kissed her cheek.

“The family had always kept him in their thoughts,” Alequin said. “I knew about my uncle; we often talked about him.”

During his visit to California, Albino also made his way to Stanislaus County in the San Joaquin Valley to reconnect with his older brother, Roger, who was with him when he was taken in 1951.

The brothers reminisced about their childhood and their time in the military, as noted by Alequin. She mentioned that Albino, who refrained from discussing his story with the media, had faint memories of his kidnapping and the journey to the East Coast.

Albino eventually returned to the East Coast, followed by another visit in July. Sadly, that would be the last time he saw Roger, who passed away in August.

“I believe he passed away content,” Alequin shared with the Mercury News. “He found peace knowing his brother was located.”

Eric Lagatta reports on breaking and trending news for YSL News.