Luis Armando Albino vanished in 1951. He was six years old. He was playing in a park in Oakland, California. A woman approached him. She offered to buy him candy. She spoke to him in Spanish. Instead of giving candy, she kidnapped him.
His older brother, Roger, was there. They were taken to West Oakland park on February 21, 1951.
Authorities searched everywhere. The Coast Guard, Army, and city staff joined in. They combed through waterways. Rickety leads came in. The case went cold.
His family never gave up hope. A photo of young Luis was always on display. His mother, Antonia, kept newspaper clippings. She hoped he would return. She died in 2005.
In 2020, his niece, Alida Alequin, took an online DNA test “just for fun.” It showed a 22% match with a man she didn’t know.
At first, she got no response. But she kept searching. Early in 2024, she and her daughters checked old Oakland Tribune archives. They found a photo of Luis and Roger. That gave Alida hope. She called the police.
Police opened a new missing persons case. They passed on the lead to the FBI and Department of Justice. They tested DNA. Both Luis and Alida’s mother gave samples.
On June 20, investigators came to Alida’s mother. They told her the news: Luis was found alive and living on the East Coast.
Two days later, Luis flew to Oakland. He met his family—including Alida and her mother.
Alida described the moment. “He hugged me, and said ‘Thank you for finding me.’ He gave me a kiss on the cheek.”
Alida then drove him to see Roger in Stanislaus County. They embraced. Held a tight, long hug. They talked for hours. About childhood. About military years.
Luis is now 79. He served in Vietnam as a Marine. He became a firefighter. He is also a proud father and grandfather.
He returned to the East Coast in July. It was a three-week visit. It was the last time he saw Roger. Roger passed away in August. Alida said he died peacefully, knowing Luis was found.
Luis declined media interviews. The kidnapping case remains open. The public is urged to help, if they have information.
In short:
A boy taken in 1951 was found alive in 2024. A niece’s DNA test and old photos cracked this cold case. Luis met his family after over 70 years. His story shows that hope can bring closure. Memorials, DNA tests, and persistence brought him home.
