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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 (MP16380) and 2 other sources
In the vast and often perilous landscape of the Arizona desert, the story of Cesario Meza Lizarraga is one of many that ends in an unresolved question. On January 9, 2010, at the age of 52, Cesario was last seen in the vicinity of Sasabe, Arizona, a small community on the U.S.-Mexico border. A Hispanic man with graying, wavy hair, a mustache, and hazel eyes, he stood between 5'6' and 5'8' tall. A noticeable surgery scar on his back served as a distinct physical feature. His journey on that winter day was a common one in this region: crossing the international border. It was at some point during this crossing that he vanished, leaving behind a void of information and a family grappling with uncertainty.

Details surrounding the specific events leading to Cesario Meza Lizarraga's disappearance are scarce. The official narrative simply states he was last seen while crossing the border, a circumstance that unfortunately is not uncommon in the harsh terrain of the Sonoran Desert. For countless individuals who undertake this dangerous journey, the risks are immense, ranging from the unforgiving natural elements to the potential for encountering individuals who might wish them harm. Whether Cesario was traveling alone or with a group remains publicly unknown, as does the exact point of his last known location in the expansive and rugged borderlands of Pima County.

The case of Cesario Meza Lizarraga is being handled by the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office, under the case number FSC MPR 1587. The lack of public information regarding any search and rescue efforts or specific leads in the investigation paints a somber picture of the challenges faced by authorities in such cases. Often, with limited information to go on, investigations can quickly grow cold. The overview of this case is one of an abrupt and silent disappearance in a region that is a frequent setting for such tragedies. With no updates on his whereabouts or the circumstances of what happened to him, the case of Cesario Meza Lizarraga remains an open and poignant mystery.

Last Seen: Jan 9, 2010

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.

78%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP11297
John Doe — Arizona
UP11297 • Found Apr 28, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%40 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'6"–5'8"
78%Possible
John Doe — Lukeville, Arizona - unidentified case UP9085
John Doe — Lukeville, Arizona
UP9085 • Found Jul 4, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 81%80 mi away, same county
TimingFound 18 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
77%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 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 75%98 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 166–186 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
77%Possible
John Doe — Elgin, Arizona - unidentified case UP9048
John Doe — Elgin, Arizona
UP9048 • Found Mar 16, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 83%Est. 30–50 vs 52
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 86%61 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Weight 64%118 lb vs 166–186 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray
76%Possible
John Doe — Rio Rico, Arizona - unidentified case UP122524
John Doe — Rio Rico, Arizona
UP122524 • Found Oct 14, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 94%33 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Hair 70%Black vs Gray
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 84%Est. 35–50 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 97%21 mi away, same county
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'6"–5'8"
76%Possible
John Doe — Baboquivari, Arizona - unidentified case UP100115
John Doe — Baboquivari, Arizona
UP100115 • Found Dec 18, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–60 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 97%21 mi away, same county
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'7" vs 5'6"–5'8"
76%Possible
John Doe — Topawa, Arizona - unidentified case UP90609
John Doe — Topawa, Arizona
UP90609 • Found Feb 14, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–55 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 95%28 mi away, same county
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9"–6'1" vs 5'6"–5'8"
76%Possible
John Doe — Robles Junction, Arizona - unidentified case UP80342
John Doe — Robles Junction, Arizona
UP80342 • Found Sep 21, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 91%43 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'6"–5'8"
76%Possible
John Doe — west of Cowlic Village, Arizona
UP53098 • Found Feb 3, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 83%Est. 30–50 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 94%34 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8"–6'1" vs 5'6"–5'8"

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.