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

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP53114) and 2 other sources
In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of the Arizona desert, the story of Daniel Alvarado Espinoza's disappearance began on June 25, 2012. At 27 years old, Daniel, a Hispanic male with black hair and striking green eyes, was last known to be in the Sasabe area of Pima County, a region that straddles the complex and challenging terrain of the Mexico-Arizona border. He was reportedly wearing black jeans and a long-sleeve navy shirt, and carrying a black backpack. Since that day, there has been no contact with him, leaving his family and authorities with a painful and prolonged silence. The circumstances surrounding his last known moments are centered on the act of crossing the border, a journey fraught with inherent dangers, from the harsh natural elements to the potential for encountering individuals with ill intentions. His case was officially reported to the Phoenix Police Department years later, on October 27, 2018, adding a layer of complexity to the investigation due to the significant passage of time.

Distinctive physical features often play a crucial role in identifying missing individuals, and Daniel has several that his loved ones hoped would lead to his discovery. He has a three to four-inch scar on one of his knees, though which knee is not specified. Another identifying mark is a tattoo of two dots on the web of his left hand, situated between his index finger and thumb. He stands between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall and at the time of his disappearance, weighed between 170 and 180 pounds. These details, while specific, have yet to yield the breakthrough needed to resolve his case. The lack of any communication or sightings since he was last seen has created a void of information, making the investigative process incredibly difficult for law enforcement. The passage of over a decade has only deepened the mystery, turning his family's hope for answers into a prolonged state of uncertainty.

The official investigation into Daniel Alvarado Espinoza's disappearance is being handled by the Phoenix Police Department. The case, logged under number 201800001963092, remains open, a testament to the ongoing, albeit challenging, search for answers. His profile is listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as case number MP53114, a public-facing database that serves as a crucial tool for law enforcement, medical examiners, and the general public in the effort to locate missing individuals. The overarching narrative of this case is one of ambiguity and the painful reality of a person who vanished while undertaking a perilous journey. The hope is that by keeping his story alive and circulating his description, someone, somewhere, may come forward with information that could finally shed light on what happened to Daniel Alvarado Espinoza and bring an end to his family's long and agonizing wait.

Last Seen: Jun 25, 2012

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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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.

83%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP14499
John Doe — Arizona
UP14499 • Found Jun 30, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–32 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
82%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona
UP15183 • Found Dec 31, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 23–30 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'6"–5'8"
82%Moderate
John Doe — Near Mountain Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP15177
John Doe — Near Mountain Village, Arizona
UP15177 • Found Aug 24, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–28 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"–5'8"
82%Moderate
John Doe — Sells, Arizona - unidentified case UP14951
John Doe — Sells, Arizona
UP14951 • Found Aug 20, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 98%16 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'6"–5'8"
82%Moderate
John Doe — Arivaca, Arizona - unidentified case UP10663
John Doe — Arivaca, Arizona
UP10663 • Found Jul 23, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 27
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%39 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 weeks after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'8"
81%Moderate
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 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 99%14 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
81%Moderate
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 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 98%16 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'5" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — near Queen's Well, Arizona - unidentified case UP54498
John Doe — near Queen's Well, Arizona
UP54498 • Found Jan 2, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 29–36 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 99%15 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'6"–5'8"
81%Moderate
John Doe — Near Dirt Burn Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP16738
John Doe — Near Dirt Burn Village, Arizona
UP16738 • Found Jun 6, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'8"
81%Moderate
John Doe — vicinity of New Fields, Arizona - unidentified case UP14173
John Doe — vicinity of New Fields, Arizona
UP14173 • Found Jan 29, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 93%35 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"–5'8"

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.