Samantha Kibalo Missing Person Case

Jun 04, 2010

Nov 14, 2023

Samantha

Kibalo

27

2

33 inches

22 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

In the small town of Suffern, New York, a story of love, loss, and enduring hope began to unfold. On February 3, 2001, two-year-old Samantha Kibalo, a little girl with bright brown eyes who loved to play dress-up, was last seen. She was with her mother, Ann Kibalo, for a court-ordered overnight visit. Samantha's father, Michael Kibalo, was to pick her up the next day, but they never arrived at the agreed-upon location. This was the last time Samantha was seen by her father, sparking a search that has now spanned over two decades. At the time of her disappearance, Samantha was described as a bright and special little girl with a great personality. Her father remembers her love for learning and wearing hats. The circumstances leading up to Samantha's disappearance were fraught with parental conflict. Her parents, Michael and Ann, were in the midst of divorce and custody proceedings. Concerns for Samantha's well-being in her mother's care had been raised during the custody case, with a court-ordered psychiatrist recommending supervised visits. It is believed that Ann fled with Samantha just days before a court was expected to grant Michael full custody. Following their disappearance, a felony warrant for custodial interference was issued for Ann Kibalo on March 30, 2001. The vehicle they were initially thought to be traveling in, a black 1996 Suzuki Sidekick, was found abandoned in Brooklyn, New York, two months after they vanished, leaving no clues as to their whereabouts. Over the years, the search for Samantha has continued tirelessly, fueled by her father's unwavering hope of being reunited with his daughter. Law enforcement agencies, including the Rockland County Sheriff's Office and the FBI, have pursued various leads. Investigators have considered the possibility that Ann and Samantha could be living under different identities, possibly using Ann's maiden name, Yermak, or other aliases such as Kaplan or Saul. There is a belief that they may have relocated to Florida, where Ann has extended family. It is thought that Samantha, who was only a toddler when she was taken, may not even be aware that she is a missing person. The case of Samantha Kibalo is a heart-wrenching story of a parental abduction that has left a father searching for his daughter for over twenty-five years. Despite the passage of time, the hope of finding Samantha and bringing her home remains.

Jan 28, 2001

Suffern

New York

Rockland County

10901

No

3759

Rockland County Sheriff's Office

New City

New York

Rockland County

10956

55 New Hempstead Rd., New York

8456385400

County

Law Enforcement

FRS002139

Rockland County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Brown

Brown

No

09/05/2026