A toddler kidnapped from her father’s home in Connecticut has been found safe 25 years later in Mexico, authorities said Wednesday.
Andrea Michelle Reyes was snatched from her father’s New Haven home in October 1999, when she was just 23 months old, New Haven police said. Investigators quickly identified Andrea’s mother, Rosa Tenorio, as a suspect and issued a warrant for her arrest.
Tenorio had separated from Andrea’s father and did not have legal custody of her daughter at the time, according to authorities. Cops believed Tenorio had fled to Mexico, and Andrea’s father made several trips south of the border attempting to locate his daughter but did not succeed, police said.
New Haven police reopened the case in 2023 and determined Tenorio had taken Andrea to the city of Puebla, about 60 miles southeast of Mexico City. Through interviews, search warrants and social media, investigators made contact with Andrea and connected her with DNA testing company Othram, which often assists in cold cases.
Andrea and her father both provided DNA samples and were confirmed as father and daughter, Othram said Tuesday in a press release. According to the company, Andrea is now 27 and still lives in Mexico.
“This case reflects the hard work of our officers and detectives,” New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said in a statement. “While cases may have investigative leads exhausted at the time, no cold case is ever truly closed. We remain committed to resolving every cold case and this is a perfect example of that effort.”
An arrest warrant was issued for Tenorio, but it is only active in the U.S., according to New Haven police. Tenorio is still believed to be living in Mexico.
Andrea’s father requested anonymity and was not publicly identified, cops said.
