A dramatic twist of fate has brought together a woman who was kidnapped at just two years old and her father after being missing for over two decades. Andrea Michelle Reyes, now 27, was snatched by her mother, Rosa Tenorio, from Connecticut in October 1999.
The investigation into the kidnapping went cold until 2023 when Detective Kealyn Nivakoff began to re-investigate the case using interviews, search warrants, and social media. She was found in Puebla. Advanced DNA testing confirmed the relationship between Reyes and her father, finally reuniting them after more than two decades of separation.
Reyes’ father had searched tirelessly for his daughter but never heard from her or her mother until now. The identification of Reyes was part of an initiative to resolve over 500 cases involving minors contained in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
An arrest warrant remains active for Tenorio, who is believed to be still in Mexico. New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson praised the hard work of his officers and detectives in resolving the case, saying that no cold case is ever truly closed.
The reunion between Reyes and her father is a heartwarming example of the determination of law enforcement agencies to resolve every cold case and bring closure to families affected by these tragedies. As for Tenorio, authorities will continue to pursue her arrest warrant with the hope of bringing her to justice for her crimes.
Source: The Guardian
