Andrea Reyes: Found Safe After 25 Years
More good news! The New Haven Police Department in Connecticut held a press conference today to answer questions about the safe recovery of Andrea Reyes. Police say she was abducted by her non-custodial mother 25 years ago. This comes just a week after the announcement that 14-year-old Aziz Khan, allegedly kidnapped by his mother in 2017, was safely recovered in Colorado.
Investigators say Andrea Michelle Reyes was only 23 months old when she was abducted in October 1999 by her non-custodial mother, Rosa Tenorio. Over the years, several agencies, including the New Haven Police Department, the FBI and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) supported the search for Andrea, but her whereabouts remained a mystery. In 2023, Det. Kealyn Nivakoff with the New Haven Police Department began to reinvestigate the case, which resulted in Andrea contacting the man she believed to be her father. To confirm the woman’s identity, the New Haven Police Department worked with Othram to evaluate a potential familial relationship. The biotech company based in Texas specializes in advanced forensic genetic genealogy. Othram compared the woman’s DNA sample and Andrea’s father’s DNA, confirming that there was a father-daughter relationship.
The woman was in fact Andrea Reyes. She is now 27 years old and resides in Mexico. The arrest warrant for Andrea’s mother is still active. Police believe Tenorio still resides in Mexico. NCMEC will be assisting Andrea and her family as they reunite.
Andrea’s father and his wife also attended the press conference today. She spoke about the good 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. We recognize that this reacquaintance will have challenges, however we are confident that God is building the path before us and leading our steps.
We wish to thank the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children who dedicated resources to posters and age progression pictures. They were instrumental to sending these posters all over the United States and even to areas in Mexico.
While we have good news, we do not lose sight for those families waiting for their loved ones to be found. We keep you in our prayers, hoping for the day that you too, can be reunited with your loved ones. As we establish new connections over these days and months, we ask for your prayers and respect for our privacy. We hope that our good news will one day be your good news.”
Family abductions are the second most common type of missing child case reported to NCMEC, after children who run away. In 2023, NCMEC received 1,185 family abduction cases and 59% of all AMBER Alerts that were issued were for family abductions.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about family abduction cases is that the children are safe and ‘not really missing’ because they’re with a parent,” said Angeline Hartmann, director of communications at NCMEC. “At NCMEC, we know that there is a lot of emotion behind these cases, and these scenarios can be unpredictable and dangerous. These children ARE missing and living a life on the run with their kidnapper. They’re forced to lie about who they are and are often isolated. The recent recoveries of Andrea Reyes and Aziz Khan remind everyone that these kids can be found, no matter how long they’ve been gone.”
Here are a few family abduction cases at NCMEC where these children still need your help:
Colton & Cohen Desormeaux
Police say 5-year-old Colton Desormeaux and 7-year-old Cohen Desormeaux were abducted in November 2024 from their home in Lake Charles, Louisiana, by their mother, Sharlene Desormeaux. The brothers were recently featured as part of NCMEC’s partnership with the REELZ television show, “On Patrol: Live.” You can watch the segment on the show’s official Facebook Page here.
Colton (left) and Cohen (right) Desormeaux. (Credit: NCMEC)
Solenne Grimes
Four-year-old Solenne Grimes was last seen on Dec. 25, 2021. She was allegedly abducted by her mother, Tara Lasham, from her home in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Today, Solenne is 8 years old. Read about her case and see letters from her family in our blog, “Remember how much I love you – Happy Birthday Solenne.”
Solenne Grimes at 4 (left). Solenne Grimes age-progressed to 7 (right). (Credit: NCMEC)
Huaiyu & Binyu Chin
Seven-year-old, Huaiyu Chin and 4-year-old, Binyu Chin, were allegedly abducted from San Diego, California in 2019 by their father, Foong Chin. Today, Huaiyu is 13 and Binyu is 10. Read more about their case on our blog, Can New Images Help Find Missing Siblings?
Huaiyu Chin age-progressed to 13 (left). Binyu Chin age-progressed to 10 (right). (Credit: NCMEC)
Ava Baldwin
Six-year-old Ava Baldwin was last seen on Sept. 17, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas. She was allegedly abducted by her mother, Kathryn Baldwin. Today, Ava is 15. Learn more about Ava’s case by watching this video from 2019: “Missing: Ava Baldwin.”
Ava Baldwin at 6 (left). Ava Baldwin age-progressed to 15 (right). (Credit: NCMEC)
Reuben Bennett Blackwell, Jr.
Three-year-old Reuben “Bennett” Blackwell, Jr was allegedly abducted by his father, Reuben Bennett Blackwell, Sr. on May 6, 1996, from his home in Clinton, Maryland. Today, Bennett would be 32. Read more about his case and see a new age progression image in our blog, Bennett, where are you?
Reuben Blackwell at 3 (left). Reuben Blackwell age-progressed to 32 (right). (Credit: NCMEC)
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For more information on family abductions, please visit our website: https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/familyabduction.
You can search missing kids in your area and nationwide at https://www.missingkids.org/search.