A missing Connecticut girl, Andrea Reyes, has been found 25 years after she was kidnapped. Now 27 years old, Reyes was found living in Mexico with her biological mother. At just 2 years old, Andrea was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Rosa Tenorio, who fled to Mexico with the then-toddler. DNA technology was said to have ultimately confirmed the kidnapped woman’s identity, as her father and stepmother never stopped searching for her in the two and a half decades she was missing.
After the young Connecticut girl went missing in 1999, her biological father continued to search for her. He even reportedly made several trips to Mexico in hopes of finding her. However, he was unsuccessful. After the news of Andrea Reyes being discovered in Mexico was revealed, her father and stepmother released a statement thanking the police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (via Fox News).
“Thank you for sharing in our joy in finding our daughter Andrea. After 25 years, God has answered our prayers and blessed us with a chance to know her again,” Andrea’s stepmother said. “We recognize that this reacquaintance will have challenges, however, we are confident that God is building the path before us and leading our steps.”
She added that their family is praying for other families in similar situations. “We hope that our good news will one day be your good news,” she stated.
Missing Connecticut Girl Found Alive 25 Years After Kidnapping
Perhaps the most shocking part of this story is that Andrea and her mother were allegedly identified by Mexican authorities in 2000. However, “it was advised that the Government of Mexico would not take further action to remove Andrea from her mother,” New Haven PD Sgt. John Moore said during a press conference.
In 2023, it was Andrea herself who reportedly contacted the man she believed was her father. The New Haven police then began to re-investigate the case and DNA later confirmed her identity.
According to the outlet, family abductions are the second-most common type of child abduction in the U.S. Director of communications at the NCMEC, Angeline Hartmann, says that there are many “misconceptions” about family abductions as many believe the kids are “safe” or “not really missing” because they’re with family members. She also says that Andrea’s case is a reminder that missing kids can be found “no matter how long they’ve been gone.”
“This is a sad family situation,” one person commented.
“I hope her biological mother is getting punished for this,” another said.
Andrea Reyes may be remembered in the news as the missing Connecticut girl who was found after 25 years. However, her family is just glad that she’s safe and they have a second chance at a relationship with her after all these years.
