CJ Coombs
Samantha Michelle Kibalo has been missing from Suffern, New York (Rockland County), since February 3, 2001, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Her photo above (right) is an age-progressed likeness of how she might have looked at 25, though she would now be 27.
Samantha may be unaware she is this missing child. The hope is that someone, or Samantha, may recognize the age-progressed image. She was abducted by her mother, Ann Kibalo (pictured below), who would now be 63 years old.
On March 30, 2001, a felony warrant for Custodial Interference was issued for Ann. She and her daughter may be using alias last names Kaplan, Saul, or Yermak. Since Samantha was one year old, her father has had custody of her. When she was with her mother on a two-day visitation (a one over-night visit), she was never returned to her father.
As of today, 242 missing children in New York state are listed on the NCMEC website, with the oldest case dating back to 1955. Not all missing children are reported to the NCMEC, but they should be.
About Samantha
Samantha was only two years old and 22 pounds when she vanished. She had brown hair and brown eyes. Her case is classified as a family abduction.
A vehicle associated with Samantha’s disappearance was a black 1996 Suzuki Sidekick SUV with New York License Plate M125MX, which was accounted for.
Her mother may use eyeglasses while driving. Her mother may have sought treatment for a dental condition. She may have frequented medical and doctor offices with Samantha.
More details
Samantha was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Ann Yermak Kibalo, during a court-ordered overnight visitation.
Ann filed for divorce from Samantha’s father, Michael Kibalo, three weeks after Samantha was born. Reportedly, Michael said every time he saw Samantha, Ann would accuse him of abusing their child. Ann’s allegations were investigated, and the authorities determined there was no foundation to her claims.
Testimony by a court-appointed psychiatrist suggested that Ann suffered from Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy, a rare disorder which could cause Ann to abuse Samantha and, or, subject her to unnecessary medical treatment for illnesses that didn’t exist.
In the 11 months after Samantha’s birth, her mother took her to seven different doctors 33 times and they could not find anything wrong with Samantha. The psychiatrist believed her father should have custody of Samantha and that Ann’s visitations with her daughter should be supervised.
On January 15, 2002, the FBI issued a warrant for kidnapping for Ann. She also has arrest warrants on charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, custodial interference, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Her last known address was in New Hyde Park, New York.
About Ann
At the time of Samantha’s abduction, Ann was 37. She was 5’0″ tall and 120 pounds. She had brown hair and blue eyes. For driving, Ann wears eyeglasses. She might wear contact lenses that are tinted brown. She may have shorter hair that’s been dyed blonde.
Ann has an accounting degree from Brooklyn College and previously worked in that field. She has a dental condition and may seek medical treatment for it.
The black 1996 Suzuki Sidekick Sport with New York license plates was eventually recovered in a parking garage in the New York City borough of Brooklyn two months after Ann and Samantha disappeared.
Ann and Samantha may have visited doctors’ offices and other medical facilities. They may have been with an adult female relative. A 12-pound red miniature Tibetan Spaniel or Tibetan Terrier dog named Vodka may have been with them. This was the family dog.
Ann and Samantha could be in the New York City area, Palm Beach County or Boynton Beach, Florida, Illinois, or New Hampshire.
In 2006, there were reported sightings of Ann and Samantha in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Although the sightings weren’t confirmed, they were believed to be credible.
They could have been moving often to different locations around the country using different aliases. Samantha’s father believed Ann’s mother was helping them since she refinanced her house several times. It’s a theory that hasn’t been verified.
It’s believed Samantha may have been abused before her disappearance. Her father, who may still be living in New Jersey, continues to search for his daughter. Since he can’t find that his daughter was enrolled in school, he believes she might have been homeschooled.
Samantha’s case remains unsolved. She’s listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under case #MP7375. See also the January 2026 NCMEC blog article, “One Day Closer to Finding Samantha: A Father’s 25-Year Search,” by going here.
If you have any information regarding Samantha’s disappearance or whereabouts, please reach out to the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office at 1-845-638-5400 and reference agency case no. FRS002139. Samantha’s father, the custodial parent, and family members would like to know where she is and if she’s safe.
You can also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) through its website at https://www.missingkids.org or its 24/7 call center at 1-800-843-5678, and reference NCMEC #904495.
Samantha has been missing for 25 years. Every missing child’s name deserves to be remembered, repeated, and shared until their case is solved. Every renewed search effort makes a difference.
Reporting to the NCMEC
The NCMEC is not automatically notified of every missing child, which might explain why the number of missing children sometimes appears low, compared to other statistics. A separate report must be made to the NCMEC, even after law enforcement enters the missing child’s information into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
When a child is entered into the NCIC database, the information isn’t automatically sent to the NCMEC. To activate the NCMEC’s resources and support, a separate report must be submitted to them. The NCMEC provides case management, poster distribution, law enforcement assistance, and analytical support.
The number of missing U.S. children fluctuates because many runaways eventually return home. However, some cases involve endangered missing people, endangered runaways, lost or injured missing people, family abductions, non-family abductions, and, unfortunately, foul play is sometimes involved.
Thank you for your time to read and share. Find Samantha.