On a late summer day, August 28, 2011, 32-year-old Alejandro Aguilar Penaloza was last seen near the U.S.-Mexico border in the area of Douglas, Arizona. At the time he went missing, he was described as a Hispanic male, standing approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 170 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are unsettlingly vague, leaving his family with a profound sense of loss and a multitude of unanswered questions.
His last known activity was attempting to cross the border, a journey that for many is fraught with peril, and for Alejandro, it appears to have been the point at which his known path ended.
Hoping to aid in his identification, family and investigators have highlighted several distinct physical characteristics. Alejandro has a scar on his right ring finger located just above the nail, as well as a scar in the middle of his forehead. Additionally, he has a black mole or beauty mark on his right rib cage. Tattoos also serve as significant identifiers; it is believed he has a cross tattooed on his right chest or pectoral area and a flower on his left foot. Another tattoo, the words 'SUR 7' on his right wrist, may have been removed prior to him going missing. When last seen, it is thought he was in possession of a Wells Fargo bank card.
The official investigation into Alejandro’s disappearance was opened by the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office on September 12, 2011. His case is a painful reminder of the ambiguous loss that many families face when a loved one vanishes, particularly in the vast and often treacherous terrain of the borderlands. The lack of any clear evidence or witnesses has left the investigation with few leads to follow. The overview of this case is one of profound uncertainty; a man with a family and a life seemingly vanished, leaving behind only a sparse description and the enduring hope of his loved ones that he might one day be found. The passage of time has not diminished their need for answers or the quiet sorrow that accompanies not knowing the fate of Alejandro Aguilar Penaloza.Last Seen: Aug 28, 2011
