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Kibalo's estranged husband had been awarded custody of their daughter after their divorce. Ann Kibalo was to return Samantha to her father in Suffern on Feb. 3, 2001, but failed to do so, according to a missing person's notice issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Since that day, the state Missing Person Clearinghouse, the FBI and local police, have been searching for Samantha.
According to a Facebook page featuring photos of Samantha's father Mike Kibalo and messages to Samantha, the family continues looking for the girl.
In one post on the page, there is a message to the young girl: "Samantha someday you will see this site and notice that you have a father who loves you. His name is Michael Kibalo and lives in Morris Plains, NJ. Your Grandmother is Ruth Yermak. We believe that you know her. Your father is alive and he wants you back. He loves you very much."
The age-progressed photo shows how Samantha may have looked when she was 15; she is now 17.
Samantha may be traveling with her dog, a red miniature Tibetan spaniel named Vodka, and she and her mother may be using the last names of Yermak, Saul or Kaplan.
Two warrants have been issued for Yermak Kibalo's arrest including a federal warrant on charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and a Ramapo Justice Court warrant that alleges custodial interference in the first degree.
If you’ve seen Samantha or know where she may be, please contact the Rockland County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the state Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 1-800-346-3543.
Leads can also be e-mailed to missingpersons@dcjs.ny.gov.
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