A woman abducted as a toddler in Connecticut has been found alive after 25 years in Mexico, bringing a long-standing missing persons case to a close. Andrea Michelle Reyes was just two years old when her mother, Rosa Tenorio, took her in October 1999, despite not having legal custody. The case went cold until 2023 when a dedicated police detective reopened the investigation, leading to Reyes' discovery in Puebla, Mexico.
Reyes' father made several trips to Mexico over the years, hoping to find his daughter, but never succeeded in making contact. He remained relentless in his search, driven by the hope of reuniting with Andrea. According to Othram, a DNA testing company involved in the case, “Over the years, Andrea’s father searched tirelessly, but never heard from his daughter or her mother.”
Detective Kealyn Nivakoff played a pivotal role in uncovering Reyes' location. Using advanced investigative techniques, including "a combination of interviews, search warrants and social media," Nivakoff determined that Reyes was residing in Puebla, a bustling city with over one million residents.
Advanced DNA testing confirmed the familial relationship between Reyes and her father, finally allowing them to reconnect after more than two decades apart. The success of this case is part of a broader initiative to resolve over 500 cases involving minors, housed within the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
An active arrest warrant for Tenorio remains in effect within the United States, as she is suspected of fleeing with her daughter to Mexico. Both the New Haven police and the FBI obtained a felony arrest warrant for Tenorio following the abduction.
New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson lauded the determination and hard work of the officers and detectives involved in bringing this case to a resolution. He emphasized the department's commitment to unresolved cases by stating:
“While cases may have investigative leads exhausted at the time, no cold case is ever truly closed.” – Karl Jacobson