Californian boy abducted at six in 1951 found alive 73 years later
After more than seven decades, a six-year-old boy from California abducted as a child has been found alive.
Luis Armando Albino, who was six years old in 1951 when he was abducted while playing at a park in Oakland, was found alive by his 63-year-old niece Alida Alequin through the help of an online DNA test, old photos, and newspaper clippings.
According to The Mercury News, Alequin located her uncle living on the East Coast with the assistance of police, the FBI, and the Justice Department.
Albino, a father and grandfather and a retired firefighter and Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, reunited with his California family in June, including his late 82-year-old brother, Roger, who passed away last month following a cancer diagnosis.
As per Alequin, Roger "died happily" and was at peace with himself, knowing that his brother was found.
"They grabbed each other and had a really tight, long hug. They sat down and just talked," Alida said.
Albino also found out that his mother died at the age of 92 in 2005 but "never gave up hope that her son was alive."
Meanwhile, Alequin told Mercury News that her uncle thanked and hugged her, expressing his gratitude for finding him.
How did Alequin find Albino?
The Oakland police acknowledged Alequin's "integral role" in finding her uncle, saying that the her efforts paved the way for the outcome.
According to Mirror, Alequin took a DNA test in 2020 and reached out to Luis after their DNA was matched at 22%. At first, he never got a reply from Luis.
Alequin's daughters helped her by searching Luis' name online, with the family "discovering pictures of him on microfilm at their local library."
On February 21, 1951, Luis disappeared after allegedly being stolen by a lady in a park in West Oakland while playing with his elder brother, Roger. The former was reported being enticed by the woman who promised to buy him candy.
The woman then abducted Luis, transporting him to the East Coast, where he was subsequently raised by a couple as their own son.
Officials and family members did not disclose his residence on the East Coast.