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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 (MP16157) and 1 other source
In the border region of Arizona, a story of a family's hope and uncertainty began to unfold on August 25, 2008. On this day, 42-year-old Carlos Valenzuela, a Hispanic male, was last seen. He was in the process of crossing the border from Sonoyta, Sonora, which lies just south of Lukeville, Arizona. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being between 5'7' and 5'9' tall and weighing between 170 and 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. A distinguishing feature is a tattoo on his left upper arm with the word 'Meche.' The circumstances surrounding his attempt to cross the border and what happened to him after he was last seen remain unclear, leaving his family with unanswered questions.

The days and weeks following Carlos Valenzuela's last known whereabouts were filled with anxiety and a desperate search for information. His case was officially reported to the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office, which opened an investigation into his disappearance. The details available to the public are sparse, painting a picture of a man who seemingly vanished while undertaking a perilous journey. There is no information available regarding what clothing he might have been wearing or if he was traveling with any personal belongings. The lack of these details adds to the difficulty of the search and the investigation, creating a void of information for both law enforcement and his loved ones.

The investigation into Carlos Valenzuela's disappearance has been a long and arduous one, with few leads to follow. The Pima County Medical Examiner's Office holds the primary case file, and despite the passage of time, the case remains open. The official record of his disappearance is a testament to the ongoing uncertainty that his family endures. His case is a somber reminder of the dangers faced by individuals crossing the border and the profound ambiguity that can shroud such disappearances. The overview of this case is one of a man who was there one moment and gone the next, a narrative that unfortunately is not uncommon in the borderlands. The lack of resolution in Carlos Valenzuela's case highlights the complexities and the heart-wrenching nature of missing person cases, especially those that occur in the transient and often unforgiving environment of an international border crossing.

Last Seen: Aug 25, 2008

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 — Lukeville, Arizona - unidentified case UP11061
John Doe — Lukeville, Arizona
UP11061 • Found Nov 22, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"–5'9"
81%Moderate
John Doe — Go Vu, Arizona - unidentified case UP8752
John Doe — Go Vu, Arizona
UP8752 • Found Sep 7, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 37–47 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 93%35 mi away, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'9"
80%Moderate
John Doe — Why, Arizona - unidentified case UP14766
John Doe — Why, Arizona
UP14766 • Found Aug 22, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 96%27 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"–5'9"
80%Moderate
John Doe — Gunsight Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP11275
John Doe — Gunsight Village, Arizona
UP11275 • Found Jul 1, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 78%Est. 23–40 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Weight 78%133 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
80%Moderate
John Doe — Kupt Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP9335
John Doe — Kupt Village, Arizona
UP9335 • Found Sep 9, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%41 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"–5'9"
80%Moderate
John Doe — Lukeville, Arizona - unidentified case UP8657
John Doe — Lukeville, Arizona
UP8657 • Found Nov 25, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'9"
80%Moderate
John Doe — Charco Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP6393
John Doe — Charco Village, Arizona
UP6393 • Found Oct 15, 2009
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–44 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 95%28 mi away, same county
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
79%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 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP9621
John Doe — Arizona
UP9621 • Found Jul 13, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 84%68 mi away, same county
TimingFound 23 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"–5'9"
78%Possible
John Doe — west of Ajo, Arizona - unidentified case UP65367
John Doe — west of Ajo, Arizona
UP65367 • Found May 13, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 94%34 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'9"

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.