Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP16813) and 1 other source
In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, where the United States and Mexico meet, the story of a young man's disappearance began on July 24, 2011. David Celis Garcia, a 29-year-old male, was last seen on that summer day in the small border town of Lukeville, Arizona. His last known reported action was crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, a journey fraught with peril and uncertainty that countless individuals undertake. David, a Hispanic man with black hair and black eyes, stood at five feet, five inches tall, with a slender frame of about 120 to 130 pounds. His disappearance left his family with an agonizing silence, a void filled only by the hope that someone, somewhere, might have information about his fate.

Those who knew David held onto the specific details of his appearance, praying they might lead to his discovery. He had a scar on his left cheek and a mole on the left side of his back. His left ear was pierced, and a distinctive tattoo of his initials, 'D C G,' was inked onto his left hand. The day he vanished, he was dressed in a t-shirt with red and white stripes, dark blue jeans, and a black cotton Adidas sweater. On his feet, he wore white socks and red leather tennis shoes. He also carried a few personal items: a red baseball cap to shield him from the desert sun, a white plastic Puma watch, and a USB memory stick, a small digital token of a life left in limbo.

The investigation into David's disappearance is being handled by the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office. In the years that have passed, the lack of any new information has been a heavy burden for his loved ones. His case is a somber reminder of the ambiguous loss faced by families whose relatives vanish in the vast and unforgiving terrain of the borderlands. The official record remains a collection of stark facts and physical descriptions, a snapshot of the man who was last seen at a geographical and personal crossroads. This overview of the case reflects a journey that ended in mystery, a young man who embarked on a new path but whose own story remains tragically unfinished, leaving only unanswered questions in his wake.

Last Seen: Jul 24, 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.

Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–36 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 90%49 mi away, same county
TimingFound 23 months after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'5"
Weight 100%136 lb vs 120–130 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
83%Moderate
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 29
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 88%55 mi away, same state
TimingFound same day as last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP14730
John Doe — Arizona
UP14730 • Found Sep 7, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 96%27 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"
81%Moderate
John Doe — Ajo, Arizona - unidentified case UP13829
John Doe — Ajo, Arizona
UP13829 • Found Dec 3, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 94%34 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'5"
81%Moderate
John Doe — Ajo, Arizona - unidentified case UP13020
John Doe — Ajo, Arizona
UP13020 • Found Jun 10, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 26–45 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 94%34 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"
Weight 88%100 lb vs 120–130 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
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 29
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 94%34 mi away, same county
TimingFound 12 months after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'5"
Weight 88%150 lb vs 120–130 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Sells, Arizona - unidentified case UP10439
John Doe — Sells, Arizona
UP10439 • Found May 1, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 29
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 88%55 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"
81%Moderate
John Doe — Queenswell Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP9067
John Doe — Queenswell Village, Arizona
UP9067 • Found Jul 7, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 29
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%41 mi away, same county
TimingFound same day as last seen
Height 84%5'3" vs 5'5"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
80%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP14066
John Doe — Arizona
UP14066 • Found Oct 21, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 93%35 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'5"
80%Moderate
John Doe — Lukeville, Arizona - unidentified case UP11061
John Doe — Lukeville, Arizona
UP11061 • Found Nov 22, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 16 months after last seen
Height 68%5'8" 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.