Carlos Reyes-Couvertier devoted the last 25 years tirelessly searching for his missing daughter, undertaking numerous trips to Mexico where authorities suspected she might be residing after being kidnapped by her mother. Various local and federal agencies were involved in the case, and assistance came from national missing person organizations to raise awareness and gather information.
The girl, Andrea Reyes, was nearly two years old in 1999 when her mother, Rosa Tenorio, who lacked custody rights, unlawfully took her from a scheduled visit in New Haven, Connecticut, and fled, according to police accounts. Despite authorities’ efforts, the trail went cold, yet Reyes-Couvertier remained hopeful. Eventually, renewed efforts in 2023 by a detective led to a breakthrough discovery that Reyes, now 27, resided in Mexico. Subsequent DNA tests confirmed their familial ties.
The father and daughter have reconnected through phone calls and messages and are hopeful for an imminent in-person meeting. Speaking at a news conference in New Haven alongside police and FBI officials, the father, now 55, expressed his joy, “It was a moment of joy. We have some sense of happiness, but the chapter is not closed yet. There’s a lot of steps that we have to take.” Reyes was still in Mexico and unable to attend the conference.
Reyes-Couvertier, a New Haven second-grade teacher with legal custody of his daughter, witnessed New Haven police and the FBI explore various avenues to locate her over the years. A warrant remains active in the U.S. for Tenorio on alleged felony custodial interference. Not long after Reyes disappeared, both she and her mother were identified in Puebla, Mexico; however, local officials declined any action due to the view that parental kidnapping did not warrant extradition under existing treaties.
Despite exhaustive efforts by New Haven police, the FBI, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the case hit dead ends. The tide turned in 2023 when Detective Kealyn Nivakoff revisited the cold case, leveraging modern tools and methods, such as social media and search warrants, to trace Reyes to Puebla. With coaxing, Reyes agreed to a DNA test through the company Othram, which confirmed her identity.
Detective Nivakoff expressed satisfaction with the resolution but acknowledged the journey ahead for the reunited family, saying, “I’m really pleased with the outcome. At the same time, for us as a police department, this might be closure on our end but it’s certainly not closure on their part. This is really just the beginning of a whole healing process for them.” The specifics of communications with Reyes remain private.
Reyes-Couvertier, relishing his recognition as New Haven’s 2017 Teacher of the Year, along with his wife Lucia Rafala, expressed gratitude to all those who assisted over the years. Rafala voiced optimism, noting, “After 25 years, God has answered our prayers and blessed us with the chance to know her again.” Acknowledging prospective challenges, they remain optimistic, believing divine guidance leads their path.
John Bischoff III of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which is orchestrating preparations for the awaited reunion, remarked on the emotional weight of this momentous occasion, “As you can imagine, it’s a very emotional time for the family.” He highlighted the tasks of selecting an ideal meeting place and navigating the emotional complexities stemming from their extended separation.
Though the road ahead may appear daunting at times, Bischoff remained hopeful, asserting, “It’s absolutely going to be, I’m sure, a scary time for everyone involved. A lot of unknowns. But it’s all positive in the end because she’s been found.”
