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Crime Solvers Central
302 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 (MP38845) and 6 other sources
In the summer of 1999, a sense of quiet concern began to settle over a family in Chicago, Illinois. Marco A. Araujo, a 43-year-old Hispanic male, had vanished. The last known contact with Marco was on July 26, 1999. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being between 5'8' and 5'10' tall and weighing somewhere between 150 and 170 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes. Details surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance are scarce, leaving his loved ones with a painful void of unanswered questions. The official record simply states there are no useful details about what might have led to him going missing.

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, with no word from Marco. The anguish of not knowing his whereabouts weighed heavily on his family. The Chicago Police Department was tasked with the investigation into his disappearance, but the lack of information presented a significant challenge. The case was created in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System years later on June 28, 2017, a testament to the enduring hope of finding answers. This public file, case number MP38845, serves as a digital placeholder for a life interrupted, a story without an ending.

Decades have now passed since Marco Araujo was last seen. The world has changed in countless ways, yet for his family, time has been marked by his absence. The investigation into his disappearance remains open, a cold case held in the archives of the Chicago Police Department. While the specifics of what happened to Marco on that July day in 1999 are unknown, the impact of his absence is a story of enduring uncertainty and a family left to wonder. The case itself is a stark reminder of the many individuals who disappear each year, leaving behind a legacy of questions and an unfillable space in the lives of those who love them.

Last Seen: Jul 26, 1999

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 — Chicago, Illinois
UP97269 • Found Aug 23, 2022
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–5'10" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 95%130 lb vs 150–170 lb
79%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129247 • Found Oct 11, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 82%Est. 50–60 vs 43 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 98%188 lb vs 150–170 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP129214
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129214 • Found Sep 4, 2000
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Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 13 months after last seen
Height 52%5'4" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 96%131 lb vs 150–170 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP8357 • Found Oct 8, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 43 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150–170 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP138099
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP138099 • Found May 13, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 43 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 68%5'5" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%144 lb vs 150–170 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129233 • Found Jan 3, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 43 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 95%130 lb vs 150–170 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129132 • Found Oct 3, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 43 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8"–6'1" vs 5'8"–5'10"
77%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP125425
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP125425 • Found Jun 20, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 75%4'11"–5'7" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
77%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP129200
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129200 • Found Jun 9, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 43
Race 60%White
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 months after last seen
Height 52%5'4" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 150–170 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP129228
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129228 • Found Sep 9, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 65%Est. 20–40 vs 43 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 150–170 lb
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.