In 1997, Cuevas was informed her 10-day-old baby had died in a blaze allegedly caused by a heater malfunction, but she always suspected otherwise.
Her instincts were validated in 2004 when she attended a birthday party and spotted a girl with familiar dimples. Ingeniously, she obtained a strand of the child’s hair for DNA testing, which confirmed the girl was indeed her missing daughter.
The kidnapper, Carolyn Correa, a cousin by marriage, had stolen Delimar, staged the fire, and raised her under a different name. Correa was later arrested and sentenced to up to 30 years in prison.
Despite being reunited, Delimar and her parents faced significant challenges adjusting. Language barriers, the trauma of abduction, and a lack of support made the transition difficult.
Delimar, now 26, revealed how her teenage years were marred by depression as she grappled with the magnitude of her kidnapping. Questions still linger about Correa’s motive, as Delimar recalls experiencing abuse despite being treated as Correa’s child.
Even more troubling is Correa’s claim of having an accomplice who has never been identified. A 2008 film, Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story, chronicled the ordeal, but Delimar continues to seek closure, including understanding why she was taken. Her story remains a testament to her mother’s unwavering belief and determination.
