Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP53497) and 1 other source
In the early summer of 2018, a young man named Nelson Esau Godinez Valladares vanished under perplexing circumstances. At the age of 26, the Hispanic male was last seen on June 7, 2018, in an unspecified location within Arizona. Details surrounding the moments leading up to his disappearance remain publicly unknown, creating a void of information for those concerned about his welfare. At the time he went missing, Nelson was described as being between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes. His case was officially created in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System several months later, on November 16, 2018.

Distinctive tattoos marked his body, including the names 'Crystel' and 'Belsy' inked on his back, near his shoulders. When he was last seen, it is believed he was wearing size 36 blue jeans and what were described as 'wine-colored' tennis shoes in a size 40, which were noted to be damaged. Critically, he was thought to have his Guatemalan government-issued identification card, known as a DPI, in his possession. The lack of specific details about his last known whereabouts in Maricopa County has made the investigation into his disappearance particularly challenging for authorities and his family.

Multiple law enforcement and consular agencies have been involved in the investigation, reflecting the complexity of a case that spans international borders. The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office in Edinburg, Texas, holds a case file, as does the Consulado de Guatemala in McAllen, Texas, which was reported to them in August 2018. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner is also listed as an investigating agency, a standard procedure in cases where a person is missing and could potentially be unidentified. The overall synopsis of this case is one of profound uncertainty. With no provided circumstances of disappearance, the narrative of Nelson Esau Godinez Valladares's case is one of an abrupt and unexplained absence, leaving a painful lack of closure for those who know him.

Last Seen: Jun 7, 2018

Links to Additional Sources (1)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

80%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP106028 • Found Jun 21, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 33–58 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 84%69 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'3"
Weight 100%203 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Big Fields Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP80776
John Doe — Big Fields Village, Arizona
UP80776 • Found Jan 16, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%4'10"–5'2" vs 5'2"–5'3"
79%Possible
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona - unidentified case UP67431
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona
UP67431 • Found Mar 8, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–30 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 82%75 mi away, same state
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 100%4'10"–5'2" vs 5'2"–5'3"
78%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP75357
John Doe — Arizona
UP75357 • Found Jul 24, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 53%Est. 18–22 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'3"
Weight 49%120–135 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP102311
John Doe — Arizona
UP102311 • Found Aug 1, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–28 vs 26 when missing
Location 100%Same area, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"–5'3"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
77%Possible
John Doe — southwest of Picture Rocks, Arizona - unidentified case UP67780
John Doe — southwest of Picture Rocks, Arizona
UP67780 • Found Nov 13, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 71%118 mi away, same state
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'2"–5'3"
76%Possible
John Doe — Granite Tank, Arizona - unidentified case UP66455
John Doe — Granite Tank, Arizona
UP66455 • Found Sep 27, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–30 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 70%127 mi away, same state
TimingFound 16 months after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'7" vs 5'2"–5'3"
75%Possible
John Doe — Ajo, Arizona - unidentified case UP121658
John Doe — Ajo, Arizona
UP121658 • Found Aug 22, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 64%154 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'3" vs 5'2"–5'3"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
75%Possible
John Doe — Sil Nakya, Arizona - unidentified case UP96015
John Doe — Sil Nakya, Arizona
UP96015 • Found Jul 26, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 68%133 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'2"–5'3"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
75%Possible
John Doe — Sells, Arizona - unidentified case UP92525
John Doe — Sells, Arizona
UP92525 • Found May 31, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 64%155 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'5" vs 5'2"–5'3"
Hair 100%Black vs Black

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.