A Connecticut woman kidnapped as a toddler in 1999 has been found alive in Mexico, bringing a decades-long missing persons case to a remarkable resolution.
Authorities confirmed that Andrea Michelle Reyes, now 27 years old, was located in Puebla, Mexico, after being abducted by her mother, Rosa Tenorio, from New Haven, Connecticut, nearly 25 years ago.
A Cold Case Reopened
According to the New Haven Police Department (NHPD), Andrea was taken by Tenorio, who did not have legal custody, in October 1999.
After the abduction, authorities believed Tenorio had fled to Mexico, leading to the issuance of a felony arrest warrant in connection with the case.
Despite Andrea’s father making multiple trips to Mexico to search for his daughter, he had no contact with her or Tenorio for decades.
The case remained unsolved for years, until Detective Kealyn Nivakoff of the NHPD Special Victims Unit took another look at the file in 2023.
How Investigators Found Andrea
Using a combination of interviews, search warrants, and social media, Detective Nivakoff was able to determine that Andrea had been living in Puebla, a city with a population of over one million.
Once authorities tracked Andrea down, investigators worked with Othram, a forensic DNA testing company, to confirm her identity and her biological connection to her father.
After nearly 25 years apart, Andrea and her father have now been reunited.
Ongoing Legal Questions
While Andrea’s case has been resolved, questions remain about the legal consequences for Tenorio, her mother.
The felony arrest warrant for her abduction remains active in the United States, though authorities suspect she is still residing in Mexico.
Out of respect for Andrea’s father, police have not released his identity.
New Haven Police: No Case is Ever Closed
New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson praised the dedication of detectives who never gave up on Andrea’s case.
“While cases may have investigative leads exhausted at the time, no cold case is ever truly closed,” Jacobson said. “We remain committed to resolving every cold case, and this is a perfect example of that effort.”
