Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP22237)
In the summer of 2013, a 42-year-old man named Jean Carlos Da Cruz Gomes vanished while attempting to cross the border into the United States. A Brazilian national, he was last known to be in the area of Pisinemo, Arizona, within Pima County. His last contact with family was on August 8, 2013. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a Hispanic male, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing between 190 and 200 pounds.
He had black, curly hair, brown eyes, and a mustache and beard. A distinctive feature was a self-drawn, cone-shaped tattoo on his right front thigh. He was reportedly wearing brown pants, a large green t-shirt, and a baseball cap, and was carrying a black backpack, a Mexican cell phone, and his Brazilian passport.
The circumstances leading up to Jean Carlos's disappearance began with a text message to his brother on August 4, 2013. In the message, he stated he was crossing the border at Sonoyta, Sonora. Four days later, on August 8th, his brother received a concerning phone call from the guide who was assisting Jean Carlos. The guide informed him that Jean Carlos was suffering from blistered feet. The plan was for the group to cross Highway 86 the following day.
The next communication brought devastating news. On August 9, 2013, the guide called Jean Carlos's brother again, this time to say that Jean Carlos could not continue the journey. The guide stated that he had been left behind near mile marker 20 of Highway 86, in the vicinity of Pisinemo. He was said to have been no more than a 20-minute walk north of the highway. This was the last known information about his whereabouts, leaving his family with immense uncertainty and fear for his safety in the harsh desert environment.
The case of Jean Carlos Da Cruz Gomes is a story of a journey that ended in silence. What began as a hopeful attempt to cross a border became a desperate situation in the Arizona desert. The communication from the guide provides a harrowing glimpse into his last known moments, struggling with physical ailments that ultimately led to him being left behind. His family was left to grapple with the knowledge that their loved one was alone and vulnerable. Despite the passage of time, the investigation into his disappearance, managed by the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office, continues in the hope of one day providing answers to his family about what happened to him after he was left behind.Last Seen: Aug 8, 2013
