NY Carolina Dias Meyer Noronha (18 months) - New York NY, 1997

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Pics: 1997 / 2000
Missing Since: December 22, 1997 from New York City, New York
Classification: Family Abduction
Date of Birth: June 8, 1996
Age: 1 year old
Height and Weight: 2'6, 30 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Biracial (Indian/Brazilian) female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Carolina speaks Portuguese.

Details of Disappearance

Carolina disappeared from the Jamaica Estates neighborhood of New York City, New York on April 12, 2002. She was born in India and her father, Vivian Noronha, is a citizen of India. She was taken to New York a few months after her birth and raised there. Vivian stated that the Carolina's mother, Ana Noronha, gradually spent less and less time with her, leaving her father to raise her. The couple divorced in 1995 and Ana got an order of protection from Vivian, claiming spousal abuse, but the order was later thrown out by the judge. On December 19, 1997, the judge signed a court order prohibiting Ana from taking Carolina out of New York. Three days later, she took Carolina to Brazil in violation of the order.

Photographs of Ana and Vivian are posted below this case summary; photographs of the grandmother and vital statistics for both women are unavailable. Vivian filed a criminal complaint against Ana with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), but no charges were brought. He hired an attorney in Brazil and was permitted to visit Carolina in 1999 and 2000. In 2002, Vivian had amnother visit with Carolina. The visit was supervised by the child's nanny. Vivian drugged the nanny's soft drink and when she fell asleep, he took Carolina to Paraguay to take a flight directly to the United States. The Paraguayan authorities had been alerted, however, and stopped him as he tried to board the plane. Vivian showed the authorities his American custody papers, but they sent Carolina back to Brazil anyway.


Vivian continues to petition for his daughter's return. He stated that he has spent over $30,000 trying to recover her. Although Carolina's whereabouts are known, she is still listed a missing person because she is in Brazil in violation of the American court order granting custody of her to Vivian.

Left: Ana Noronha; Right: Vivian Noronha

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
New York Police Department
718-969-5100

Charley Project
NCMEC