[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF CRYSTAL ANZALDI, INSPECTOR JOSE BERRI-TORRES AND 
                 AGENTS CESAR NIEVES AND ISMAEL CINTRON

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 22, 1998

  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday morning, May 20, I had 
the honor of participating in the 1998 Congressional Breakfast 
organized by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to 
celebrate the winners of the Third Annual National Missing Children's 
Awards. I had been looking forward to this day and the opportunity to 
salute the three outstanding Interpol investigators from Puerto Rico 
whose diligent investigatory work led to the rescue of missing child, 
Crystal Anzaldi.
  Crystal Anzaldi, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Anzaldi, and her 
two sisters, traveled to Washington from Oregon, where they now live, 
to commemorate this important event. Crystal was just 14 months when 
she was abducted from her home in San Diego, California, in December of 
1990. Crystal's parents searched for her for seven long years, until an 
amazing chain of events and clever investigative work, led to her being 
identified and recovered in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  Investigating a complaint alleging child abuse, Inspector Berrios of 
Interpol Puerto Rico discovered that Crystal's birth certificate was 
fraudulent. He researched her case thoroughly and carefully; contacting 
the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Web-site. He 
assigned Interpol Agents Ismael Cintron and Cesar Nieves to search the 
Center's database of photographs of missing and abducted children. The 
Agents were shocked when they recognized the unique smile of a 14-month 
old baby. It was Crystal, who was then eight years old. She was 
reunited with her biological family shortly thereafter.
  By initiating the chain of events that led to Crystal's recovery--all 
three agents deserve to be commended for ending a long and painful 
search. Their intuition, optimism, determination and meticulous 
investigative work were critical towards the success in reuniting this 
family.
  I also want to recognize the outstanding service to our society being 
performed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and 
the many organizations, such as grassroots activists, police 
departments, and others throughout the nation whose commitment makes 
such a difference in the lives and well-being of all children. Adelante 
and Godspeed in your work on behalf of children and families in the 
Nation.

                          ____________________