Kidnapped New Haven Toddler Found in Mexico After 25 Years
New Haven, CT – A woman abducted as a toddler from New Haven more than 25 years ago has been located in Mexico, bringing closure to a case that had long remained a mystery.
Andrea Michelle Reyes was just 23 months old when she was taken from her New Haven home in October 1999 by her non-custodial mother, Rosa Tenorio. For years, law enforcement searched for Reyes, issuing felony warrants for Tenorio and working with federal agencies to locate the missing child. Despite these efforts, the case went cold.
A breakthrough came in 2023 when Detective Kealyn Nivakoff of the New Haven Police Department took a fresh look at the case. Using new investigative techniques, including forensic DNA analysis, Nivakoff was able to track Reyes to Puebla, Mexico, where she had been living under a different identity. DNA testing, conducted in collaboration with Texas-based forensic DNA company Othram, confirmed Reyes’ identity and reconnected her with her father after more than two decades.
Now 27 years old, Reyes is said to be processing the news of her past. Authorities have stated that the arrest warrant for Tenorio remains active, but since she is believed to still be in Mexico, extradition remains uncertain.
“This case highlights how no cold case is ever truly closed” … “With advancements in forensic science and the dedication of our investigators, we were able to bring closure to a family that had been searching for answers for more than two decades.”
said New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson.
The case is part of Othram’s Project 525 initiative, which focuses on resolving long-standing cases of missing juveniles. Reyes’ discovery marks another success in the project’s mission to reunite families with their missing loved ones.
