Missing Toddler Found Alive After 26 Years
In a remarkable breakthrough, Andrea Michelle Reyes, who disappeared as a toddler in 1999, has been found alive more than 25 years later.

Andrea was just 23 months old when she was last seen at her father’s home in New Haven, Connecticut. Shortly after, authorities issued a felony warrant for her non-custodial mother, Rosa Tenorio Andrea, suspecting she had taken the child to Puebla, Mexico. Despite years of investigation by multiple agencies, including the New Haven Police Department, Andrea’s whereabouts remained unknown.

Over the years, forensic experts generated age-progression images to estimate what Andrea might look like, but no leads materialized. Then, in 2023, the case took a dramatic turn when a woman in Mexico reached out to Andrea’s father, believing she might be his long-lost daughter.

Working with Othram, a forensic genealogy lab, police obtained a DNA sample from the woman and compared it to Andrea’s father’s profile using advanced KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. The results confirmed a biological match—Andrea Reyes, now 27 years old, had finally been identified.

Andrea’s discovery is part of Project 525, an initiative led by Othram and the RTI research institute to resolve missing juvenile cases listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Her case marks the seventh successful identification in Connecticut using forensic genealogy technology.

While Andrea has been located, authorities have not confirmed whether her mother, Rosa Tenorio Andrea, has also been found. The investigation remains ongoing.

This remarkable case underscores the power of forensic advancements in solving long-standing mysteries, bringing long-awaited answers to families searching for their loved ones.

The story of Andrea Michelle Reyes, who went missing at just 23 months old and was found alive 26 years later, is truly a remarkable one. After disappearing from her father’s home in New Haven, Connecticut in 1999, Andrea’s whereabouts remained a mystery despite extensive investigations by law enforcement agencies.

For years, her father held out hope that his daughter would be found, and thanks to advancements in forensic technology, that hope became a reality in 2023. A woman in Mexico reached out to Andrea’s father, believing she might be his missing daughter. With the help of Othram, a forensic genealogy lab, a DNA sample was obtained and compared to Andrea’s father’s profile, confirming a biological match.

Andrea’s case is just one of many success stories from Project 525, an initiative aimed at resolving missing juvenile cases listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Through the use of advanced KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing, Andrea’s true identity was finally revealed after more than two decades.

While Andrea has been located and identified, the whereabouts of her mother, Rosa Tenorio Andrea, remain unknown. The investigation into her disappearance continues, but the discovery of Andrea after all these years brings hope to families of missing persons everywhere.

This incredible breakthrough serves as a reminder of the importance of never giving up hope and the power of forensic advancements in solving cold cases. Families of missing persons can now have renewed faith that answers may one day come, even after many years of uncertainty. Andrea’s story is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement agencies and the impact that new technologies can have in bringing closure to those who have been searching for their missing loved ones for so long.