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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 (MP31042) and 2 other sources
In the summer of 2015, a 49-year-old man named Margarito Ortega Buendia vanished under circumstances that remain unclear. On July 23, 2015, Margarito, a Hispanic male, was last known to be in the process of crossing the border from Mexico into Nogales, Arizona. Standing at approximately five feet five inches tall and weighing around 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, his sudden disappearance left his loved ones searching for answers. The day he went missing marked the beginning of a prolonged and painful period of uncertainty for his family.

Details surrounding Margarito's life and the specific reasons for his border crossing are not widely publicized, adding to the mysterious nature of his case. What is known is that his last reported location was a busy port of entry, a place where countless individuals pass through daily. For Margarito, however, this transit point became the last place he was verifiably seen. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office took on the investigation, but the complexities of a cross-border disappearance presented significant challenges. Despite their efforts, information about his whereabouts or what may have happened to him after he reached Nogales has been scarce.

The case of Margarito Buendia is a poignant example of the many individuals who go missing each year, their stories often fading from public view as time passes. For his family, the lack of resolution means an ongoing search for truth and a hope for closure that has yet to be realized. The investigation has been hampered by the limited information available regarding his intended destination and contacts within the United States. Distinctive physical features, including scars on his left eyebrow, forehead, stomach, right arm, and behind his right ear, were noted in his missing person file, providing key identifiers should he be found. The overview of this case is one of a man who seemingly vanished while undertaking a journey that thousands make, leaving a void of information and a family left to wonder what became of him in the Arizona border town.

Last Seen: Jul 23, 2015

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.

81%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP14474
John Doe — Arizona
UP14474 • Found Oct 21, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 49
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 98%19 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 months after last seen
Height 84%5'3" vs 5'5"
78%Possible
John Doe — Rio Rico, Arizona - unidentified case UP122524
John Doe — Rio Rico, Arizona
UP122524 • Found Oct 14, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'5"
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Robles Junction, Arizona - unidentified case UP80342
John Doe — Robles Junction, Arizona
UP80342 • Found Sep 21, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 88%55 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'5"
77%Possible
John Doe — South Komelic, Arizona - unidentified case UP122557
John Doe — South Komelic, Arizona
UP122557 • Found Aug 19, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 87%56 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'5"
77%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP15182
John Doe — Arizona
UP15182 • Found Dec 7, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 49
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 85%66 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'5"
77%Possible
John Doe — Three Points, Arizona - unidentified case UP136035
John Doe — Three Points, Arizona
UP136035 • Found Nov 7, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 88%56 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'10" vs 5'5"
76%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 49 when missing
Location 97%20 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 165 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Baboquivari, Arizona - unidentified case UP100115
John Doe — Baboquivari, Arizona
UP100115 • Found Dec 18, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–60 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 89%49 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'5"
75%Possible
John Doe — Topawa, Arizona - unidentified case UP93892
John Doe — Topawa, Arizona
UP93892 • Found Jun 22, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 86%62 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'6" vs 5'5"
75%Possible
John Doe — Sells, Arizona - unidentified case UP92776
John Doe — Sells, Arizona
UP92776 • Found May 28, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 84%68 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'5"

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.