Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
Rene Rivas Castellanos missing person case profile photo

Rene Rivas Castellanos Missing Person Case

Last seen in Sasabe, Arizona on May 13, 2006

Victim Details

Jul 30, 2012

Jul 24, 2023

Rene

Rivas Castellanos

60

40

70 inches

72 inches

180 lbs

200 lbs

Hispanic / Latino

Male

May 13, 2006

Sasabe

Arizona

Pima County

12056

Pima County Medical Examiner's Office

Tucson

Arizona

Pima County

85714

2825 East District Street, Arizona

5207248600

County

Medical Examiner

FSC MPR 1280

Jul 26, 2011

Pima County Medical Examiner's Office

Black

Unknown

Unknown

Oct 16, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP15889) and 1 other source
On May 13, 2006, a 40-year-old man named Rene Rigoberto Rivas Castellanos spoke with his family by phone, sharing his plans to migrate to the United States through Arizona. He was last known to be in the vicinity of Sasabe, a remote and often perilous crossing point on the U.S.-Mexico border in Pima County. That phone call was the last time his loved ones ever heard from him. His intended journey into the U.S. marked the beginning of a long and painful period of uncertainty for his family, who were left to wonder about his safety and whereabouts after their final conversation.

Rene is described as a Hispanic male with black hair and a short beard. At the time of his disappearance, he stood between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall, and weighed between 180 and 200 pounds. The details surrounding the specific route he planned to take or if he was traveling with anyone else remain unknown. The harsh and unforgiving environment of the Sonoran Desert, which surrounds Sasabe, presents significant dangers to those who attempt to cross it, including extreme temperatures and rugged terrain, leaving many travelers vulnerable to dehydration, exposure, and getting lost.

The Pima County Medical Examiner's Office is the investigating agency for his case. For years, his family has been left without answers, holding on to the hope that one day they might learn what became of Rene. The circumstances of his disappearance highlight the often-unseen human stories behind migration, where individuals seeking a different future can vanish into the vast and dangerous landscapes along the border. The case of Rene Rivas Castellanos is a poignant reminder of the countless families who continue to search for missing loved ones who were last seen attempting to cross into the United States.
Last Seen: May 13, 2006

Links to Additional Sources (1)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs

    • 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 — Cowlic, Arizona - unidentified case UP4932
    John Doe — Cowlic, Arizona
    UP4932 • Found Jan 23, 2007
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 40
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 94%34 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 8 months after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 96%157 lb vs 180–200 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP5138
    John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
    UP5138 • Found Apr 17, 2008
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 36–56 vs 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 86%62 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 23 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 88%150 lb vs 180–200 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Sasabe, Arizona - unidentified case UP5076
    John Doe — Sasabe, Arizona
    UP5076 • Found Feb 25, 2008
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 21 months after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP6743
    John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
    UP6743 • Found Dec 15, 2007
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 29–43 vs 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 86%61 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 19 months after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 83%145 lb vs 180–200 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    78%Possible
    John Doe — west of Sells, Arizona - unidentified case UP54646
    John Doe — west of Sells, Arizona
    UP54646 • Found Nov 17, 2017
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 93%35 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10"–6'2" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Sells, Arizona - unidentified case UP14951
    John Doe — Sells, Arizona
    UP14951 • Found Aug 20, 2015
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 93%35 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    78%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 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 92%40 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Rio Rico, Arizona - unidentified case UP8718
    John Doe — Rio Rico, Arizona
    UP8718 • Found Feb 9, 2010
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 27–44 vs 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 94%33 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Amado, Arizona - unidentified case UP5087
    John Doe — Amado, Arizona
    UP5087 • Found Dec 6, 2008
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 31–49 vs 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 94%32 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    78%Possible
    John Doe — San Miguel, Arizona - unidentified case UP5144
    John Doe — San Miguel, Arizona
    UP5144 • Found Jun 12, 2008
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 40 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 98%17 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen

    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.

    Latest News

    View All

    Forum Posts (2)

    Hey everyone, I've been following the case of the man who went missing back in 2006 after telling... ...Read More
    12/08/2024
    Hey everyone, I was just doing some digging into older missing person cases and came across one from... ...Read More
    09/26/2023

    Other Missing Cases from Sasabe, Arizona

    Constantino Borjas Calleja missing person case in Sasabe, Arizona

    Constantino Borjas Calleja

    Missing: Jul 25, 2010
    In the summer of 2010, a young man named Constantino Borjas Calleja vanished under circumstances ...Read More
    Cesario Meza Lizarraga missing person case in Sasabe, Arizona

    Cesario Meza Lizarraga

    Missing: Jan 9, 2010
    In the vast and often perilous landscape of the Arizona desert, the story of Cesario Meza Lizarraga ...Read More
    Fausto Sevilla Antonio missing person case in Sasabe, Arizona

    Fausto Sevilla Antonio

    Missing: May 15, 2008
    In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of the Arizona desert, the story of Fausto Sevilla ...Read More
    Fernando Santiago Quinta missing person case in Sasabe, Arizona

    Fernando Santiago Quinta

    Missing: Aug 16, 2007
    In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of the Arizona desert, the story of a man's ...Read More
    Jose Olivares Gomez missing person case in Sasabe, Arizona

    Jose Olivares Gomez

    Missing: Apr 30, 2006
    In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of the Arizona borderlands, the story of Jose Guadalupe ...Read More
    Jose Rodriguez Manjarrez missing person case in Sasabe, Arizona

    Jose Rodriguez Manjarrez

    Missing: Jun 21, 2012
    In the sun-scorched landscape of Sasabe, Arizona, on June 21, 2012, 61-year-old Jose Luis Rodriguez ...Read More
    Juan Hidalgo Hernandez missing person case in Sasabe, Arizona

    Juan Hidalgo Hernandez

    Missing: Jul 23, 2006
    In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of the Arizona desert, many stories remain unfinished ...Read More