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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 (MP16832) and 1 other source
In the summer of 2011, a 28-year-old man named Nicanor Rueda Castro vanished under circumstances that remain unclear. On August 16, 2011, he was last seen in Arizona. At the time of his disappearance, Nicanor was described as a Hispanic male, standing between 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighing between 160 and 170 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. A notable distinguishing feature is a large brown mole, about 10 centimeters in size, on his back. When he was last seen, he was reportedly wearing a white cotton T-shirt and blue jeans. The case was officially reported to the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office two days later, on August 18, 2011.

The specific details surrounding the day Nicanor Rueda Castro went missing are sparse. The primary information available indicates that he was last seen while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border into Arizona. This information suggests a potentially perilous journey, though what may have happened to him after he crossed the border remains a mystery. His case is listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and he has also been known to use the aliases Antonio Plancarte and Nicolas Rueda. The lack of concrete leads and the circumstances of his last known location have made the investigation into his disappearance incredibly challenging for authorities.

The Pima County Medical Examiner's Office is the primary agency investigating the disappearance of Nicanor Rueda Castro. Despite the passage of time, his case remains open, a source of enduring uncertainty for those who knew him. The overarching narrative of his case is one of ambiguity and concern, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by individuals crossing the border. With very few details to go on, the investigation has been difficult, leaving many unanswered questions about the events that transpired after he was last seen.

Last Seen: Aug 16, 2011

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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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.

82%Moderate
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona - unidentified case UP10459
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona
UP10459 • Found Jan 30, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 28
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 78%88 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"–5'4"
Weight 62%114 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona - unidentified case UP10072
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona
UP10072 • Found Sep 25, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–30 vs 28
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 78%88 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 weeks after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"–5'4"
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Cowlic, Tohono O'Odham Nation, Arizona - unidentified case UP12076 View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–36 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 62%163 mi away, same county
TimingFound 23 months after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"–5'4"
Weight 91%136 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP106028 • Found Jun 21, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 33–58 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 84%69 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"–5'4"
Weight 80%203 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Big Fields Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP80776
John Doe — Big Fields Village, Arizona
UP80776 • Found Jan 16, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%4'10"–5'2" vs 5'3"–5'4"
77%Possible
John Doe — South Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP12008
John Doe — South Tucson, Arizona
UP12008 • Found May 9, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 18–35 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 69%128 mi away, same county
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"–5'4"
Weight 87%133 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Near Big Field Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP11595
John Doe — Near Big Field Village, Arizona
UP11595 • Found May 8, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 67%142 mi away, same county
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"–5'4"
Weight 100%176 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Papago, Arizona - unidentified case UP9196
John Doe — Papago, Arizona
UP9196 • Found Jul 23, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 28
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 64%154 mi away, same state
TimingFound same day as last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'3"–5'4"
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona - unidentified case UP67431
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona
UP67431 • Found Mar 8, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–30 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 82%75 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%4'10"–5'2" vs 5'3"–5'4"
76%Possible
John Doe — Near Ajo, Arizona - unidentified case UP12917
John Doe — Near Ajo, Arizona
UP12917 • Found Jul 15, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–55 vs 28
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 64%154 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 months after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"–5'4"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

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.

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