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Cesar Aguiar Vargas missing person case profile photo

Cesar Aguiar Vargas Missing Person Case

Last seen in Nogales, Arizona on May 8, 2017

Victim Details

Oct 23, 2017

Aug 14, 2019

Cesar

Aguiar Vargas

37

28

60 inches

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

May 8, 2017

Nogales

Arizona

Santa Cruz County

34212

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Phoenix

Arizona

Maricopa County

85003

Kristina Hiers

Homicide Detective/ Deputy Sheriff

550 West Jackson Street, Arizona

6028761000

County

Law Enforcement

https://www.mcso.org/

18-003331

Oct 21, 2017

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 8, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP40429) and 1 other source
In the spring of 2017, a 28-year-old man named Cesar Leonardo Aguiar Vargas vanished under circumstances that remain shrouded in uncertainty. He was last heard from on May 8, 2017, while he was believed to be in the vicinity of Nogales, Arizona. Aguiar Vargas, a male of Hispanic and White/Caucasian descent, was thought to have been in the process of crossing the border from Mexico into the United States. His communication abruptly ended on that May day, and his exact whereabouts since that time are unknown, leaving his family in a state of prolonged distress and searching for answers about what happened to him.

At the time of his disappearance, Cesar stood at 6 feet tall and weighed around 140 pounds, with both brown hair and brown eyes. He has a couple of distinct physical characteristics that could aid in his identification: a tattoo of a shark, though its location on his body is not specified, and a scar on the left side of his back. When he was last heard from, it is believed he was wearing a white t-shirt, brown Levi's jeans, and white tennis shoes. The official report of his disappearance was not filed until several months later, on October 21, 2017, with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office taking on the investigation into his case.

The narrative of Cesar Leonardo Aguiar Vargas's disappearance is one of ambiguous loss, complicated by the inherent dangers of crossing the border. The central belief is that he went missing somewhere in the vast and often perilous terrain between Mexico and Arizona. The lack of a precise crossing location or any known traveling companions has presented significant challenges to the investigation. His case highlights the silent crisis of individuals who go missing during migration, leaving behind families to grapple with the unknown. The investigation continues, holding onto the hope that someone might come forward with information that could finally bring clarity to what happened to Cesar.
Last Seen: May 8, 2017

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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  • Missing Person / NamUs

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    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.

    75%Possible
    John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP54315
    John Doe — Arizona
    UP54315 • Found Nov 8, 2017
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 28
    Race 60%Hispanic
    Location 85%66 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 6 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'0"

    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.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Hey everyone, I've been following this case for a while, and something that's been on my mind is the... ...Read More
    12/13/2023

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