In a case that has remained unresolved for the past 45 years, authorities continue to search for Kevin Art Verville, who went missing in 1980, just 17 days after his birth. According to a National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) poster, Verville was kidnapped from his home in Oceanside, California, by a woman pretending to be a social worker, and despite the passage of time, efforts to find him have not waned.
Recently released age progression photos offer a glimpse into what Kevin might look like now, at 44 years old. Working in collaboration, the FBI San Diego and NCMEC are urging the public to scrutinize these images and report any possible leads. "It’s very possible that Kevin Art Verville, Jr. is out there, alive, with no idea about his real identity and we need your help to bring him home," Angeline Hartmann, NCMEC’s director of communications, told their blog. The case details reflect an alleged abductor described as a young woman in her twenties with red or blond hair who may have faked a pregnancy as a means to gain trust.
Angelina Verville, the mother of the missing child, was lured away from her home by the suspect under the premise of enrolling her son into an aid program for military families. The suspect, who called herself "Sheila," drove off with baby Kevin while Angelina was led to believe she was picking up another mother to join the program. According to a social media post from FBI San Diego, investigators learned that "Sheila" had mingled with numerous residents in the vicinity, possibly positioning her to select a baby that matched her criteria.
Kevin Verville Jr. was taken from his mother in broad daylight by a woman posing as a social worker 45 years ago.
— FBI San Diego (@FBISanDiego) June 10, 2025
Today, Kevin could be anywhere, unaware of who he truly is. @NCMEC released an age progression photo of what Kevin may look like today. https://t.co/7fPGbYwQaE pic.twitter.com/uwf6IItEIp
While the original searches yielded few concrete leads, the commitment to finding Kevin prevails, with the FBI San Diego reinforcing its dedication to the task. Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi weighed in on the ongoing effort, saying that "although baby Kevin was abducted 45 years ago, FBI San Diego’s work to reunite him with his family has not ceased." The agency even stands to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to Kevin’s location and the apprehension of those responsible for his abduction, as outlined in the NCMEC blog.
