TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Baby Up For Adoption Was Stolen From Mom

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: July 24, 2008

GUATEMALA CITY - Adoption officials said Wednesday that DNA tests indicate a Guatemalan baby reported stolen from her mother was being adopted by a U.S. couple, the first strong sign that the Central American nation's troubled adoption system relied in part on abducted children.

Authorities have long thought that children were stolen or bought to supply Guatemala's $100 million-a-year adoption industry before thousands of pending adoptions were frozen in May. Dozens of mothers reported stolen babies, and at least two were found in orphanages.

But adoption officials revealed Wednesday that DNA tests identified toddler Esther Zulamita, who was reported stolen on March 26, 2007.

Jaime Tecu, director of a team of experts reviewing all pending Guatemalan adoptions, said the DNA test results represent the first time officials have directly linked a baby reported stolen by its mother to the fraud-plagued adoption system.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT