A mother who believed her newborn daughter had died in a house fire experienced a life-changing shock six years later when she discovered her daughter alive at a birthday party. Luzaida Cuevas was devastated when authorities told her that her 10-day-old daughter, Delimar, had died in a fire in December 1997.
In reality, Delimar had been kidnapped by Carolyn Correa, a relative through marriage on the side of Delimar’s father, Pedro, who deceptively raised the girl as her own and renamed her Aaliyah Hernandez. The extraordinary story is detailed in the documentary. Back from the dead: Who kidnapped me?that delves into the kidnapping and eventual reunion.
From the beginning, Luzaida doubted the official version of the fire. He recalled finding Delimar’s crib empty and a nearby window open as flames consumed his home. Despite her protests, firefighters removed her from the house, dismissing her fears of kidnapping, reports the mirror.
In 2004, while attending a birthday party, Luzaida noticed a girl who bore a striking resemblance to her missing daughter. Acting quickly, he pretended the girl had gum in her hair and took the opportunity to discreetly collect strands of hair for DNA testing.
“I remember seeing her and thinking, ‘Wow, this woman is really pretty,’” Delimar, now 26, shared with The sun. “I kept looking at her and thought, ‘Oh, she’s so beautiful.’” He added that he instinctively felt a connection with Luzaida.
Later, DNA tests confirmed that Luzaida and Pedro were Delimar’s biological parents. Correa was arrested and sentenced to nine to 30 years in prison after pleading no contest to charges of kidnapping, interference with child custody and conspiracy in 2005.
Pedro revealed that Correa had deceived him on the day of the fire by offering him a false job opportunity, luring him away from his home. When he returned he found the house engulfed in flames.
Reuniting with his biological family was a challenge for Delimar, who had grown up speaking English, while his parents spoke primarily Spanish. “Nobody thought for a second that maybe this family needs help,” he said, reflecting on the struggles his family faced after the meeting.
At age 12, Delimar dealt with suicidal thoughts as he processed the trauma of his kidnapping. The reasons behind Correa’s actions are still unclear, but Delimar’s journey underscores the lasting impact of such an ordeal. “There’s a lot of work to do to repair those relationships and move forward,” he said.