An Oakland woman, after decades of perseverance, has reunited her family with her uncle, Luis Armando Albino, who was abducted from a West Oakland park in 1951. Luis, then 6 years old, was lured away by a woman promising candy. She took him to the East Coast, where he was raised.
Luis’ niece, Alida Alequin, never gave up on finding him. A major breakthrough came in 2020 when Alequin took a DNA test, which matched her with a man on the East Coast. Despite initial setbacks, Alequin’s daughter discovered photos resembling their family, sparking further investigation. The resemblance to other family members, including their grandmother, strengthened Alequin’s belief that they had found him.
Luis, now a retired firefighter and Marine Corps veteran, was finally located and met with his family. Alequin described the emotional reunion, saying, “It was just hugs and tears, lots of hugs and tears.” Luis expressed his gratitude by hugging Alequin and saying, “Thank you for finding me.”
Luis’ family had never stopped searching for him. His mother passed away in 2005, always holding out hope that he was alive. Alequin believes her grandmother guided her through this journey. After finding him, Luis’ DNA was matched with his sister’s, confirming their connection. Alequin’s efforts, recognized by the Oakland Police Department, played a crucial role in reopening the case.
The original kidnapping case remains under investigation, but Luis has been reunited with his family after over 70 years. Alequin hopes her story will inspire others not to give up on finding missing loved ones.
