Parents of Girl Missing 7 Years Seek Reunion
SAN DIEGO — The parents of a child allegedly kidnapped from her home seven years ago and recently found in Puerto Rico hope to be reunited with their daughter on the island.
Dorothy and Jeff Anzaldi, who divorced after the disappearance of Crystal Leann Anzaldi, now 8, are scheduled to attend a custody hearing in Puerto Rico today.
The woman who had been taking care of the child is also seeking custody. Authorities in Puerto Rico have said the girl should not be reunited with her parents until the question of custody is resolved.
Jeffrey Anzaldi now lives near Portland, Ore., with his new wife, Crystal’s older sister and a half sister. Dorothy Anzaldi is a Northern California resident.
In November, Puerto Rican authorities announced that Crystal had been found on the island while they were investigating child abuse allegations against her purported mother, Nilza Gierbolini Guzman.
The girl’s true identity was discovered after Gierbolini’s estranged husband leveled the abuse allegations. Police determined that Crystal’s birth certificate identifying her as “Sonia Guzman†was fraudulent and examined 500 Internet photos of missing children before identifying a distinctive birthmark similar to Crystal’s. Blood tests confirmed Crystal’s identity.
Gierbolini, who is still in Puerto Rico, has been charged with falsifying documents and could also face charges in San Diego.
Gierbolini lived in San Diego at the time of Crystal’s disappearance, but the details of how the girl came into her custody are unclear. Gierbolini says someone left Crystal in her care and never returned for her.
The Anzaldis have said they did not know Gierbolini.
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