NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — New Haven police have reconnected a father with his daughter who was kidnapped decades ago from Connecticut’s capital city.
Imagine your 2-month-old daughter vanishes one day, and you search for her tirelessly year after year. Authorities said that 25 years later, the search has finally come to an end.
Authorities said Andrea Michelle Reyes was abducted as an infant in 1999 by her non-custodial mother. Reyes was recently found safe and living in Mexico.
Officials said Reyes, who is now 27, was taken to Mexico, where she and her mother, Rosa Tenorio, have lived in the city of Puebla for the last 25 years.
On Wednesday afternoon, city officials, Reyes’ father, and members of the police department and FBI held a press conference. You can see that in the video player at the top of this story.
Othram, a company involved in this investigation specializing in forensic genetic genealogy, said Reyes’ father searched tirelessly over the years, even going to Mexico several times to look for her in person, but found nothing.
Law enforcement began to make some progress when New Haven Police Det. Kealyn Nivakoff reopened the cold case. Through interviews, search warrants, and social media, Nivakoff was able to connect the dots and find Reyes. Police used DNA testing to confirm it was her.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Reyes’ father, Carlos, — a teacher in New Haven — said they have some sense of happiness, but the chapter is not closed yet as he tries to reconnect with his daughter.
“It was a moment of joy, but with the understanding that the process is not over,” he said.
His wife, Lucia, echoed the sentiment.
“After 25 years, God has answered our prayers and blessed us with the chance to know her again. We recognize that this reacquaintance will have challenges, however, we are confident that god is building the path before us and leading our steps,” she said.
The arrest warrant for Tenorio remains active but is only valid within the United States. According to police, she is believed to still reside in Mexico.
A retired FBI special agent said cases like this are an incredibly difficult feat.
“If a child is kidnapped here in the United States by a parent and taken to Mexico, it’s very hard to get them back from Mexico,” retired FBI special agent Ken Gray said. “And if the mother remained in Mexico, it would be difficult to get her into the United States to prosecute her.”