In the summer of 2011, a 17-year-old young man named Enrique Heriberto Marquez Nataren embarked on a journey with hopes of reuniting with his mother in New York. His travels led him to Altar, Sonora, Mexico, from where he made a poignant phone call to his mother on August 1, 2011. He informed her that he and the group he was with were preparing to cross the border at the Sonoyta/Lukeville port of entry the following day.
Enrique, a Hispanic male with black hair and black eyes, was last seen wearing a black XL t-shirt, black jeans, and size 9 black Reebok shoes. This would be the last time his family would hear directly from him, marking the beginning of a long and painful period of uncertainty.
The days that followed his last phone call were filled with an agonizing silence for Enrique's family. Their worry turned to dread when, on August 8, 2011, they received a call from the 'coyote,' the individual guiding the group across the border. The news was grim. The coyote claimed that on August 5th, Enrique had fallen gravely ill, suffering from what was described as a heart attack before they had even reached the Cerro de Elefante, a landmark on their arduous trek. According to the guide, Enrique was vomiting and became too sick to continue, and was consequently left behind. The coyote’s account was brief and lacked definitive details, stating only that Enrique was sick, not that he had passed away.
The vague and distressing information provided by the coyote is the last known account of Enrique's well-being. The exact details of what transpired in the Arizona desert remain unknown. The unforgiving environment of the border region, coupled with the inherent dangers of such crossings, creates a challenging landscape for any search and recovery efforts. The Pima County Medical Examiner's Office took on the case, but the lack of specific location details has hampered the investigation. The overview of this case is one of a hopeful journey that turned into a tragedy. A young man, on the cusp of a new life with his mother, vanished after becoming ill during a dangerous border crossing, leaving his family with unanswered questions and the enduring pain of not knowing his ultimate fate.Last Seen: Aug 1, 2011
