Missing
Vivian Paola Montanez Castellanos
Vivian, approximately 1988; Age when reported missing: 18 (approximately 2004); Vivian's sister
Date and time person was reported missing : 06/21/1988
Missing location (approx) :
Cucuta, Colombia
Missing classification : Non-Family Abduction
Gender : Female
Ethnicity :
Hispanic
DOB : 08/21/1986 (34)
Age at the time of disappearance: 1 year old
Height / Weight : Unknown
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Hispanic female. Black hair, brown eyes.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Vivian's nanny took her on an outing to a local park in Cucuta, Colombia, near the Venezuelan border, on June 21, 1988. The baby never returned home and has never been heard from again.
After her disappearance, a $20,000 ransom demand was made. The police apprehended the kidnappers within three days; one of them was the nanny and the other two were workers at Vivian's father's factory. They admitted to their crime, but Vivian was not with them and they gave conflicting accounts of her whereabouts.
One story was that the abductors had abandoned Vivian in the mountains near El Zulia, Colombia. Her father went to the location where they had supposedly left her and found a diaper, baby food, and one of Vivian's shoes. There was no sign of the baby at the scene, however.
Later, another conspirator in the kidnapping told her father that Vivian had been sold into adoption in Venezuela or the United States, possibly the Denver, Colorado area.
The FBI is investigating Vivian's case. Her family believes she was adopted and is living somewhere in the United States or in Venezuela.
Vivian has family members living in Illinois. She may resemble her sister. A photograph of her sister at Age at the time of disappearance: 10 is posted with this case summary. is profiling Vivian because she may be in the United States. Her abduction remains unsolved.
Other information and links : ncy
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Springfield, Illinois Office
217-522-9675
September 2021 updates and sources
Unsolved Crimes International
22-Month-Old Columbiana Girl Kidnapped and Missing location (approx) : Cucuta, Columbia in June 1988
The Home pageheader of Vivian Paola Montanez Castellanos
The Doe Network
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
