Marlene Santana Missing Person Case

Jun 21, 2010

Jun 11, 2022

Marlene

Santana

38

20 inches

7 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

In the fall of 1985, a joyful occasion for the Santana family turned into a lasting nightmare. On October 21, 1985, three-day-old Marlene Santana was brazenly abducted at gunpoint from her mother, Francisca, just moments after they had left Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Marlene, a Hispanic female infant with brown hair and brown eyes, was born with a minor foot deformity known as metatarsus adduction, which gives the feet a C-shaped appearance when viewed from the bottom. At the time of her abduction, she was wrapped in a blue, yellow, and pink blanket. The infant's mother had tragically encountered the kidnapper at the hospital, where the woman had expressed admiration for the newborn. The abductor, described as a white or Hispanic woman between 24 and 30 years old, approximately 5'2" and 130 pounds, with dyed red or blonde hair, may have been wearing a wig. After confronting Francisca outside the hospital, the armed woman forced her to walk for several blocks before snatching the baby and escaping in a waiting vehicle. The getaway car was identified as a white 1976 Chevrolet Malibu, possibly an unlicensed cab, with red lettering on the door. Law enforcement authorities were immediately notified, and an extensive investigation was launched into the terrifying abduction. A composite sketch of the suspect was created and circulated in the hopes of generating leads. Decades have passed since Marlene Santana was taken, yet her case remains unsolved, leaving her family with unanswered questions and enduring grief. The prevailing theory among investigators is that Marlene was likely taken by a woman who was desperate for a child of her own, perhaps having recently lost a baby or being unable to conceive. The FBI developed a psychological profile of the abductor that supported this hypothesis. Despite numerous appeals to the public for information and the tireless efforts of law enforcement, Marlene's whereabouts remain unknown. The Santana family continues to hold out hope for her return, commemorating her birthday each year. This heart-wrenching case serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of non-family abductions and the enduring pain experienced by the families of missing children. The investigation into Marlene's disappearance is ongoing, with law enforcement agencies and organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children continuing to seek answers.

Oct 21, 1985

Brooklyn

New York

Kings County

30796

New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad

New York

New York

New York County

10039

Michael McDonough

Detective

2770 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York

2126947781

Local

Law Enforcement

KNMP00748

New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad

Brown

Brown

Brown

09/22/2026