The Bay Space Information Group reported Friday that Albino’s niece in Oakland — with help from police, the FBI and the Justice Division — situated her uncle dwelling on the East Coast.

Albino, a father and grandfather, is a retired firefighter and Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, based on his niece, 63-year-old Alida Alequin. She discovered Albino and reunited him along with his California household in June.

On February 21, 1951, a lady lured the 6-year-old Albino from the West Oakland park the place he had been enjoying along with his older brother and promised the Puerto Rico-born boy in Spanish that she would purchase him sweet.

As an alternative, the lady kidnapped the kid, flying him to the East Coast the place he ended up with a pair who raised him as if he have been their very own son, the information group reported. Officers and relations didn’t say the place on the East Coast he lives.

For greater than 70 years Albino remained lacking, however he was all the time within the hearts of his household and his photograph hung at family members’ homes, his niece mentioned. His mom died in 2005 however by no means gave up hope that her son was alive.

Oakland police acknowledged that Alequin’s efforts “performed an integral function find her uncle” and that “the end result of this story is what we try for.”

In an interview with the information group, she mentioned her uncle “hugged me and mentioned, ‘Thanks for locating me’ and gave me a kiss on the cheek.”

Oakland Tribune articles from the time reported police, troopers from an area military base, the Coast Guard and different metropolis workers joined a large seek for the lacking boy. San Francisco Bay and different waterways have been additionally searched, based on the articles. His brother, Roger Albino, was interrogated a number of occasions by investigators however stood by his story a couple of girl with a bandana round her head taking his brother.

The primary notion that her uncle is perhaps nonetheless alive got here in 2020 when, “only for enjoyable,” Alequin mentioned, she took an internet DNA take a look at. It confirmed a 22 % match with a person who ultimately turned out to be her uncle. An extra search on the time yielded no solutions or any response from him, she mentioned.

In early 2024, she and her daughters started looking once more. On a go to to the Oakland Public Library, she checked out microfilm of Tribune articles — together with one which had an image of Luis and Roger — which satisfied her that she was heading in the right direction. She went to the Oakland police the identical day.

Investigators ultimately agreed the brand new lead was substantial, and a brand new lacking individuals case was opened. Oakland police mentioned final week that the lacking individuals case is closed, however they and the FBI contemplate the kidnapping a still-open investigation.

Luis was situated on the East Coast and supplied a DNA pattern, as did his sister, Alequin’s mother.

On June 20, investigators went to her mom’s residence, Alequin mentioned, and advised them each that her uncle had been discovered.

“We didn’t begin crying till after the investigators left,” Alequin mentioned. “I grabbed my mother’s palms and mentioned, ‘We discovered him.’ I used to be ecstatic.”

On June 24, with the help of the FBI, Luis got here to Oakland with members of his household and met with Alequin, her mom and different family members. The subsequent day Alequin drove her mom and her newfound uncle to Roger’s residence in Stanislaus County, California.

“They grabbed one another and had a extremely tight, lengthy hug. They sat down and simply talked,” she mentioned, discussing the day of the kidnapping, their navy service and extra.

Luis returned to the East Coast however got here again once more in July for a three-week go to. It was the final time he noticed Roger, who died in August.

Alequin mentioned her uncle didn’t need to discuss to the media.

“I used to be all the time decided to search out him, and who is aware of, with my story on the market, it might assist different households going by way of the identical factor,” Alequin mentioned. “I might say, don’t quit.”