Luis Armando Albino has been reunited with his brother Roger over 70 years after being abducted from Oakland in 1951. CTV News
In a remarkable turn of events, Luis Armando Albino, who was abducted in 1951 as a six-year-old boy from an Oakland, California park, has been found alive on the East Coast after more than seven decades. The discovery made possible through a DNA ancestry test and old records, has reunited Albino with his long-lost family in California.
Albino’s abduction occurred on February 21, 1951, when a woman lured him from the park where he had been playing with his older brother. Speaking to the Puerto Rican-born child in Spanish, she promised him candy but instead kidnapped him, taking him to the East Coast. There, Albino was raised by a couple as their own child. Despite an extensive search involving police, soldiers, and local authorities, Albino remained missing for over 70 years.
Albino’s niece, Alida Alequin, began a search for her uncle in 2020 after taking a DNA ancestry test "just for fun." The results indicated a 22% match with a man, who she would later discover was her uncle, Luis. At the time, Alequin's search yielded no contact, but her determination persisted. In 2024, Alequin and her daughters resumed their search, reviewing microfilm of old Oakland Tribune articles at the public library. One article, featuring a picture of Luis and his brother Roger, gave Alequin renewed hope. She immediately contacted Oakland police, who reopened the case of the missing persons.
Through police and FBI involvement, the breakthrough came when investigators located Albino on the East Coast. DNA tests from both Albino and his sister confirmed his identity. On June 20, authorities informed Alequin and her mother that Luis had been found. Alequin described her joy as she held her mother's hands, saying, "We found him."
Just days later, on June 24, Luis travelled to Oakland to reunite with his family. He met with Alequin, her mother, and other relatives. The emotional reunion continued the next day when Alequin drove her mother and Luis to visit Roger in Stanislaus County, California. The two brothers, separated for more than 70 years, shared a long hug and spent the day reminiscing about the kidnapping and their lives in the military.
Luis returned to the East Coast after a three-week visit with his family in July, but sadly, it was the last time he saw Roger, who passed away in August. While Luis declined to speak with the media, Alequin hopes her family’s story will inspire others who are searching for lost loved ones. "I was always determined to find him, and who knows, with my story out there, it could help other families going through the same thing. I would say, don’t give up,” she said.
