Kidnapped in 1951, Luis Armando Albino is once again in the spotlight after 70 years
23 september 2024 в 21:13
Luis Armando Albino disappeared after being kidnapped in February 1951. At that time, he was playing in a park in Oakland, California, with his older brother Roger when he suddenly vanished. Over 70 years later, Albino’s case made headlines again.
Albino was only 6 years old in 1951 when he disappeared. At that time, a woman lured him away by offering him candy. He was then taken to the East Coast and raised by a couple as if he were their own child. However, this was recently discovered when his niece, Alida Alekin, pieced everything together after taking an online ancestry test.
Albino is now 70 years old, a father, grandfather, retired firefighter, and Marine Corps veteran. His older brother Roger, however, passed away this year after reuniting with Albino. The brothers' mother, Antonia Albino, passed away in 2005 at the age of 92.
In 2020, Albino’s niece, Alida Alekin, took an online ancestry test that required her to provide a DNA sample. The test results showed a 22% match with Albino, but Alekin did not know that the child who went missing in 1951 was her uncle. Nearly four years later, Alekin gathered all the pieces of her uncle’s case, found old newspaper clippings and other reports. Once she discovered that Albino was her relative, Alekin brought her findings to the Oakland police, and they agreed to investigate. Authorities told the Mercury News that Alekin «played a key role in finding her uncle».
Albino then provided his DNA to the authorities, proving that he was the 6-year-old boy who disappeared seven decades ago. He declined to comment publicly on his case, but Alekin told the Mercury News that Albino has reunited with his family.
«He hugged me and said, 'Thank you for finding me' and kissed me on the cheek», - Alekin told the publication. «All this time, the family was thinking about him», - Alekin said. «I always knew I had an uncle. We talked a lot about him»
Albino was only 6 years old in 1951 when he disappeared. At that time, a woman lured him away by offering him candy. He was then taken to the East Coast and raised by a couple as if he were their own child. However, this was recently discovered when his niece, Alida Alekin, pieced everything together after taking an online ancestry test.
Albino is now 70 years old, a father, grandfather, retired firefighter, and Marine Corps veteran. His older brother Roger, however, passed away this year after reuniting with Albino. The brothers' mother, Antonia Albino, passed away in 2005 at the age of 92.
In 2020, Albino’s niece, Alida Alekin, took an online ancestry test that required her to provide a DNA sample. The test results showed a 22% match with Albino, but Alekin did not know that the child who went missing in 1951 was her uncle. Nearly four years later, Alekin gathered all the pieces of her uncle’s case, found old newspaper clippings and other reports. Once she discovered that Albino was her relative, Alekin brought her findings to the Oakland police, and they agreed to investigate. Authorities told the Mercury News that Alekin «played a key role in finding her uncle».
Albino then provided his DNA to the authorities, proving that he was the 6-year-old boy who disappeared seven decades ago. He declined to comment publicly on his case, but Alekin told the Mercury News that Albino has reunited with his family.
«He hugged me and said, 'Thank you for finding me' and kissed me on the cheek», - Alekin told the publication. «All this time, the family was thinking about him», - Alekin said. «I always knew I had an uncle. We talked a lot about him»
© Kolganov Andrey
