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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 (MP16875) and 2 other sources
In the vast and often harsh landscape of the Arizona desert, a story of uncertainty began to unfold on January 7, 2011. On that day, 50-year-old Esteban Cazares Alemán, a Hispanic male, was last seen. He was in Lukeville, a small community in Pima County situated on the U.S.-Mexico border. The specific circumstances of his disappearance are centered around the fact that he was seen crossing the border from Mexico into the United States near this remote outpost. From that moment, his journey became a mystery, and his whereabouts unknown, leaving a void of information for those who may have been waiting for him.

Esteban is described as being between 5 feet 1 inch and 5 feet 2 inches tall, with a weight ranging from 130 to 140 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. A distinguishing physical feature is a scar located near one of his eyes. When he was last seen, he was wearing a white shirt, beige Gabardine pants in a size 32, and a black zip-up sweatshirt that did not have a hood. For footwear, he had on shoes with brown shoelaces. He was also carrying several personal items, including a black backpack with white markings, a black wallet, a black baseball cap, and glasses. These details paint a picture of the man who vanished into the borderlands, but they do not answer the question of what happened to him.

The case of Esteban Alemán was officially reported to the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office on January 21, 2011, and his information was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in July of the following year. The Pima County Medical Examiner's Office is the primary agency investigating his disappearance. Despite the passage of time, his case remains open, a quiet testament to the many individuals who go missing in this region. The lack of resolution offers no comfort, only the lingering question of his fate. The overview of this case is one of ambiguity and concern, highlighting the perilous journey many undertake and the heart-wrenching reality for families left behind with no answers.

Last Seen: Jan 7, 2011

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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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.

80%Moderate
John Doe — Near Lukeville, Arizona - unidentified case UP12079
John Doe — Near Lukeville, Arizona
UP12079 • Found Jul 17, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0" vs 5'1"–5'2"
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
80%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 50 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 94%34 mi away, same county
TimingFound 18 months after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'1"–5'2"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 130–140 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP14411
John Doe — Arizona
UP14411 • Found Jun 13, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 84%68 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'1"–5'2"
Weight 69%96 lb vs 130–140 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Papago Farms, Arizona - unidentified case UP8838
John Doe — Papago Farms, Arizona
UP8838 • Found Apr 18, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 83%Est. 32–48 vs 50
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 95%30 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 months after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'1"–5'2"
77%Possible
John Doe — Organ Pipe National Monument, Arizona - unidentified case UP90091 View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%10 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'7" vs 5'1"–5'2"
77%Possible
John Doe — Anegam Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP11222
John Doe — Anegam Village, Arizona
UP11222 • Found Mar 12, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 87%57 mi away, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1" vs 5'1"–5'2"
77%Possible
John Doe — San Miguel Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP10161
John Doe — San Miguel Village, Arizona
UP10161 • Found Oct 10, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 50
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 85%64 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 100%5'1" vs 5'1"–5'2"
76%Possible
John Doe — South Komelic, Arizona - unidentified case UP122557
John Doe — South Komelic, Arizona
UP122557 • Found Aug 19, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 86%62 mi away, same county
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'1"–5'2"
76%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP14170
John Doe — Arizona
UP14170 • Found Dec 28, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 84%68 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'1"–5'2"
76%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP12733
John Doe — Arizona
UP12733 • Found Apr 10, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 84%68 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1" vs 5'1"–5'2"

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.