Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 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 (MP15720) and 2 other sources
In the border town of Naco, Arizona, a young man named Jose Enrique Solis Altamirano vanished under uncertain circumstances on January 16, 2003. At 21 years old, with his life ahead of him, Jose was last seen while attempting to cross the border from Mexico into the United States. His disappearance left his family with a profound sense of loss and a multitude of unanswered questions. Standing between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighing between 120 and 140 pounds, Jose had distinct physical characteristics that his loved ones hoped would aid in his identification, including black hair, black eyes, a scar above one of his knees, and a mole on his right cheek.

The details surrounding the day Jose went missing are sparse, which has made the search for answers a difficult and lengthy process for his family. The last known information about his whereabouts places him at a vulnerable point of his journey, a journey that many undertake with hopes for a different future. The Pima County Medical Examiner's Office officially took on his case, but the lack of substantial leads has left it unresolved for years. The passage of time has not diminished the hope of his family, but it has undoubtedly compounded their grief and uncertainty.

The case of Jose Solis Altamirano is a heart-wrenching example of the ambiguous loss faced by families of those who go missing. With no clear answers about what happened to him, his loved ones are left in a perpetual state of waiting and wondering. His story is a somber reminder of the perils that can befall individuals in their quest for a new beginning and highlights the silent crisis of missing persons along the border. The investigation into his disappearance remains open, a quiet testament to a life interrupted and a family's enduring hope for closure.

Last Seen: Jan 16, 2003

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.

85%Strong
John Doe — Elfrida, Arizona - unidentified case UP8987
John Doe — Elfrida, Arizona
UP8987 • Found Dec 2, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 95%29 mi away, same county
TimingFound 23 months after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 100%130 lb vs 120–140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Pearce, Arizona - unidentified case UP8970
John Doe — Pearce, Arizona
UP8970 • Found Dec 31, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–27 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 91%42 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'0" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 120–140 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP6462
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
UP6462 • Found Jul 15, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 94%Est. 22–35 vs 21
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 79%86 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 months after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 88%99 lb vs 120–140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Nogales, Arizona - unidentified case UP10775
John Doe — Nogales, Arizona
UP10775 • Found May 12, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–39 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 87%58 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Arivaca vicinity, Arizona - unidentified case UP6856
John Doe — Arivaca vicinity, Arizona
UP6856 • Found Dec 5, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 80%83 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'0" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 100%115 lb vs 120–140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP5457
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
UP5457 • Found Jul 29, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 22–34 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 79%86 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Douglas, Arizona - unidentified case UP8958
John Doe — Douglas, Arizona
UP8958 • Found Aug 28, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 76%Est. 25–44 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 96%24 mi away, same county
TimingFound 19 months after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
78%Possible
John Doe — Hereford, Arizona - unidentified case UP94000
John Doe — Hereford, Arizona
UP94000 • Found Nov 11, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'2"–5'4"
78%Possible
John Doe — Cowlic, Tohono O'Odham Nation, Arizona - unidentified case UP12076 View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–36 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 70%125 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 100%136 lb vs 120–140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
78%Possible
John Doe — South Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP12008
John Doe — South Tucson, Arizona
UP12008 • Found May 9, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 18–35 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 79%84 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 100%133 lb vs 120–140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black

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.