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

Jose Dominguez Missing Person Case

Last seen in Stockton, California on Aug 2, 1981

Victim Details

Apr 15, 2010

Apr 17, 2020

Jose

Dominguez

61

16

64 inches

116 lbs

Hispanic / Latino

Male

Aug 2, 1981

Stockton

California

San Joaquin County

26521

San Joaquin County Sheriff

French Camp

California

San Joaquin County

95231

Michael Knight

Detective

7000 Michael Canlis Boulevard, California

2094684400

County

Law Enforcement

https://www.sjgov.org/sheriff/phonedir.html

81-15618

San Joaquin County Sheriff

Black

Brown

Brown

Oct 12, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP6020) and 9 other sources
Jose Esauro "Che" Dominguez, a 16-year-old from Stockton, California, was last seen on August 2, 1981. That day, Jose left his home around 4:00 p.m., telling his parents he was going to meet friends at a nearby park and would return in a couple of hours. He never came back, and despite initial hopes that he might have run away, suspicions grew when he failed to contact his family on important dates like his birthday and holidays, which was out of character for him.

Jose was wearing a black t-shirt with his nickname "Che" and the zodiac sign for Cancer, gray corduroy pants, and gray sneakers. He had deep dimples and a distinct birthmark on his left cheek. By 1989, authorities suspected foul play and charged two of Jose’s friends, Luis Pete Gagliasso and Manuel Sanchez Jr., with his murder. However, due to insufficient evidence, the charges were later dropped, and Jose's body has never been found. Investigators continue to suspect foul play in his disappearance, and his case remains unsolved.
Last Seen: Aug 2, 1981

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Stockton teen Jose 'Che' Dominguez vanished in 1981. DNA testing ...
  • Jose Esauro Dominguez | State of California - Department of Justice
  • Jose Esauro Dominguez - The Charley Project
  • Partial human remains recovered in connection with Jose 'Che ...
  • Potential remains found in search for Jose Dominguez of Stockton
  • Jose Esuaro Dominguez: VIDEOS - Missing Persons Center
  • Jose Dominguez Missing. Stockton teen Jose 'Che' Dominguez ...
  • Child Find Of America | Jos� Dominguez has been missing from ...
  • Jos? Dominguez - Child Find of America

    • 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 — San Jose, California
    UP109334 • Found Jun 5, 1987
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–25 vs 16 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 88%54 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
    Weight 79%140 lb vs 116 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Stockton, California
    UP87360 • Found Jun 19, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 16 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 100%8 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 40 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'7" vs 5'4"
    Weight 100%110–120 lb vs 116 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Redwood Valley, California
    UP79529 • Found May 19, 1984
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 12–20 vs 16 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 68%137 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'6" vs 5'4"
    Weight 96%130–140 lb vs 116 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Sacramento, California
    UP2393 • Found Aug 20, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 91%44 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
    Weight 100%127 lb vs 116 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Westley, California
    UP11031 • Found Jun 15, 2006
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 16 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 95%29 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 25 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 87%135 lb vs 116 lb
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Menlo Park, California - unidentified case UP10530
    John Doe — Menlo Park, California
    UP10530 • Found Sep 3, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 86%60 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
    Weight 48%154 lb vs 116 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Oakland, California
    UP160748 • Found Jul 7, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 16 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 89%52 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 41 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
    Weight 92%132 lb vs 116 lb
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Manteca, California
    UP116767 • Found Feb 21, 2024
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 16 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 100%9 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 43 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 10%170 lb vs 116 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Oakland, California
    UP55089 • Found Oct 6, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 12–20 vs 16 when missing
    Location 88%55 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'6" vs 5'4"
    Weight 87%135 lb vs 116 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Oakland, California
    UP52549 • Found Feb 6, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 60%Est. 18–100 vs 16 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 88%55 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 79%140 lb vs 116 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

    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)

    I've been digging a bit more into Jose Esauro "Che" Dominguez's case recently, especially around the... ...Read More
    10/13/2024
    Does anyone else find it strange that Jose’s so-called friends, Luis and Manuel, were charged with... ...Read More
    03/16/2024

    Other Missing Cases from Stockton, California

    Ren Weddles missing person case in Stockton, California

    Ren Weddles

    Missing: Jan 4, 2018
    Ren Weddles, a 1-year-old boy, disappeared on January 4, 2018, from Stockton, California, along with ...Read More
    Federico Ramirez missing person case in Stockton, California

    Federico Ramirez

    Missing: Sep 12, 2020
    Federico Ramirez, age 36, was last seen on September 12, 2020, in Stockton, California. His case ...Read More
    Eddie Lee Sills missing person case in Stockton, California

    Eddie Lee Sills

    Missing: Mar 1, 2023
    Eddie Lee Sills, a 68-year-old Black male, was last seen in Stockton, California, on March 1, 2023. ...Read More
    Lonny McQuiston-Davis missing person case in Stockton, California

    Lonny McQuiston-Davis

    Missing: Nov 1, 1995
    Lonny Airon McQuiston-Davis, 41 years old at the time, disappeared on November 1, 1995. He was last ...Read More
    Larry Darnell Mcclure missing person case in Stockton, California

    Larry Darnell Mcclure

    Missing: Jan 8, 2017
    Larry Darnell McClure was reported missing after he was last seen in Stockton, California on January ...Read More
    Sandeep Singh missing person case in Stockton, California

    Sandeep Singh

    Missing: Jun 20, 2009
    Sandeep Singh, a 21-year-old man, was last seen on June 20, 2009, in Stockton, California. At the ...Read More