Connecticut Woman Abducted as Toddler Reunited with Father After 25 Years
In a remarkable turn of events, a woman who was abducted from Connecticut as a toddler 25 years ago has been reunited with her father, thanks to advancements in DNA technology and persistent detective work. The company responsible for the DNA match, Othram, announced the breakthrough on March 4, bringing closure to a cold case that spanned decades.
Andrea Reyes, now 27 years old, was just two years old when she was abducted by her mother, Rosa Tenorio, in October 1999. The New Haven Police Department, where the missing person report was filed, will hold a press conference on Wednesday to provide further details about the case and the reunion. The father has requested that his name not be released publicly to protect his and his daughter’s privacy.
The abduction occurred on October 5, 1999, when Reyes’ mother, Rosa Tenorio, who did not have custody of her at the time, took her. The father had custody. The New Haven Police Department and the FBI issued a felony arrest warrant for Tenorio, suspecting that she had fled to Mexico with her daughter. The father made multiple trips to Mexico in search of his daughter, but his efforts proved unsuccessful.
Reyes’ case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) and remained a cold case for many years. Despite the lack of progress, investigators never gave up hope. The New Haven Police Department released at least three age-progressed photos of Reyes over the years, in 2011, 2013, and 2020, in an attempt to generate leads and potentially identify her. These photos, created with the help of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, depicted how Reyes might look as she grew older.
In 2023, the New Haven Police Department’s Special Victims Unit reviewed cold cases, including the Reyes case. This renewed focus and determination ultimately led to the breakthrough. As part of the renewed search, a woman contacted a man she believed to be her father. The New Haven Police Department then worked with Othram, a company specializing in forensic genealogy and advanced DNA testing, to determine the relationship between the woman and the potential father.
Othram compared the woman’s DNA sample to the potential father’s DNA, confirming that he is indeed her father. This DNA match was the key to solving the cold case and reuniting Reyes with her father after 25 years of separation.
Investigators also used interviews, search warrants, and social media to find out where the girl’s mother had taken her. It was discovered that Reyes had been living in Puebla, Mexico, a city southeast of Mexico City with a population of over 1.5 million people.
Detective Nivakoff established contact with Andrea and partnered with Othram to confirm the relationship between father and daughter. This led to Andrea and her father being in contact for the first time in over twenty years.
Despite the reunion, the active warrant for Tenorio remains in effect. While the warrant is valid in the United States, authorities believe Tenorio is still residing in Mexico. Efforts to locate and apprehend her are ongoing.
Solving Reyes’ case was part of Othram’s Project 525 initiative, which began in May 2024. The initiative focuses on solving juvenile cases. Othram collaborates with RTI International, a research institute that manages the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, to solve these cases.
Reyes’ case marks the seventh time Connecticut officials have successfully utilized Othram’s technology to solve a case. This underscores the growing importance of advanced DNA testing in resolving cold cases and providing closure to families who have been searching for answers for years.
New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson emphasized the significance of Reyes’ reunion with her father, attributing it to the “hard work of our officers and detectives.” He stated that "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."
The New Haven Police Department’s press conference, scheduled for 1 p.m. eastern time on Wednesday, will provide further details about the case and the ongoing investigation. The press conference will be live streamed on the police department’s Facebook page.
The resolution of this case highlights the power of DNA technology, the dedication of law enforcement, and the unwavering hope of families searching for missing loved ones. It serves as a reminder that even the coldest of cases can be solved with the right tools, persistence, and a commitment to justice. The long awaited reunion of Andrea Reyes and her father is a poignant example of hope restored after decades of uncertainty.
