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Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP40383) and 2 other sources
In the autumn of 2016, a then 44-year-old man named Cesar Sanchez Lopez went missing. He was last seen on October 16th of that year in Nogales, Arizona, a city that sits on the border with Mexico. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a Hispanic and White/Caucasian male with black hair and brown eyes. He stood between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed between 150 and 160 pounds. A noticeable and distinguishing physical characteristic is a long scar on his left arm. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are connected to an attempt to cross the border from Mexico into the United States through Arizona.

The official case concerning Cesar Sanchez Lopez's disappearance is being handled by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, under case number 17-035135. More than a year after he was last seen, on October 21, 2017, his case was officially created in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as case number MP40383. This national database serves as a resource for law enforcement, medical examiners, and the general public to help resolve missing and unidentified person cases. The creation of this case file included photographs of Cesar, uploaded on October 27, 2017, in an effort to aid in his identification and location.

Years have passed since Cesar Sanchez Lopez was last seen, and his case remains unresolved. The initial report and subsequent inclusion in national databases highlight the serious and ongoing nature of his disappearance. The details provided, from his physical description to the specific circumstances of his last known whereabouts, are critical pieces of information for investigators and the public. The investigation, led by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, continues to seek answers in the hope of bringing closure to his family and friends. The case serves as a somber reminder of the perils that can be associated with border crossings and the many individuals who go missing each year.

Last Seen: Oct 16, 2016

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

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.

78%Possible
John Doe — NE of Ruby, Arizona - unidentified case UP105876
John Doe — NE of Ruby, Arizona
UP105876 • Found Jun 21, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 44 when missing
Location 97%20 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"–5'6"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
77%Possible
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP158804
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
UP158804 • Found Dec 14, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 44 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%63 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'8" vs 5'4"–5'6"
75%Possible
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP102760
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
UP102760 • Found Feb 9, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–70 vs 44 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%63 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'10" vs 5'4"–5'6"
75%Possible
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 44
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 85%66 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'4"–5'6"

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.