298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Maria Mauricio Missing Person Case

Last seen in Phoenix, Arizona on Jan 20, 1997

Victim Details

Created

Dec 12, 2008

Case Added

Mar 25, 2024

First Name

Maria

Last Name

Mauricio

Current Age

Age At Disappearance

Height

63 inches

Height To

65 inches

Weight

130 lbs

Weight To

140 lbs

Ethnicity

Hispanic / Latino

Gender

Female

Last Seen

Jan 20, 1997

City

Phoenix

State

Arizona

County

Maricopa County

Agency ID

6892

Agency Name

Phoenix Police Department

Agency City

Phoenix

Agency State

Arizona

Agency County

Maricopa County

Agency Zip Code

85004

Agency Contact

Jared D'Addabbo

Contact Job Title

Detective

Agency Address

2120 North Central Avenue, Arizona

Agency Phone

6022626151

Agency Jurisdiction

Local

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Case #

1997-70330180

Agency Report Date

Feb 28, 1997

Primary Agency

Phoenix Police Department

Case Contributors

4876

Hair Color

Brown

Left Eye Color

Brown

Right Eye Color

Brown

Solved

Last Updated

Sep 30, 2026

Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!

Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP1066) and 6 other sources

In the winter of 1997, a 19-year-old woman named Maria Antonia Mauricio vanished from Phoenix, Arizona. On the morning of January 20th, she was at a restaurant in the area of 17th Avenue and Van Buren Street with her grandmother. At approximately 10:30 a.m., Maria was seen getting into a small, white, two-door car driven by an unidentified man. She has not been seen or heard from since that day. At the time of her disappearance, Maria, who was also known by the nicknames 'Cholla' and 'Little Munchkin,' was about three months pregnant.

Maria is a Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time she went missing, she was described as being between 5'3' and 5'5' tall and weighing between 130 and 140 pounds. She has several distinct tattoos, including three teardrops by her right eye, the name 'Mauricio' across her back, 'Casper' on her upper right arm, and 'Benavides' written vertically down her lower left leg. She also has tattoos on her right hand and left fingers. Additionally, Maria's ears are pierced, and she may have surgical scars on her face from a previous injury. She has also been known to use the last name Valenzuela.

The circumstances surrounding Maria's disappearance are troubling, and authorities suspect foul play was involved. The lack of contact with family and friends since she was last seen is highly uncharacteristic and raises significant concerns for her well-being. The Phoenix Police Department is the lead investigating agency in her case. Over the years, her case has been shared by various organizations dedicated to finding missing persons in the hope of generating new leads. Despite the passage of time, the investigation into what happened to Maria Mauricio remains open as her family continues to await answers.
Last Seen: Jan 20, 1997

Links to Additional Sources (6)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Missing Person / NamUs

Maria Mauricio | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom

2278DFAZ - Maria Antonia Mauricio - Doe Network

Missing: MARIA MAURICIO (AZ) - Arizona Daily Star

Maria Antonia Mauricio - The Charley Project

Maria Mauricio Missing Since June 20, 1997 From Phoenix, AZ

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.

83%Moderate

Jane Doe — Tempe, Arizona

UP1987 • Found Apr 27, 2002

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 15–19 vs 19 when missing

Race 100%Hispanic

Location 100%8 mi away, same county

TimingFound 5 years after last seen

Height 84%5'1" vs 5'3"–5'5"

Weight 100%125 lb vs 130–140 lb

Hair 60%Black vs Brown

Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

78%Possible

Jane Doe — Red Rock, Arizona

UP4921 • Found Sep 11, 2008

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 15–22 vs 19 when missing

Race 100%Hispanic

Location 82%74 mi away, same state

TimingFound 12 years after last seen

Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"–5'5"

Weight 92%159 lb vs 130–140 lb

Hair 60%Black vs Brown

78%Possible

Jane Doe — Phoenix, Arizona

UP2015 • Found Jun 7, 2004

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 19 when missing

Location 100%4 mi away, same county

TimingFound 7 years after last seen

Height 84%5'1" vs 5'3"–5'5"

Weight 100%140 lb vs 130–140 lb

Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

77%Possible

Jane Doe — Sells, Arizona

UP9038 • Found Jun 23, 2010

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 19 when missing

Race 100%Hispanic

Location 74%107 mi away, same state

TimingFound 13 years after last seen

Height 100%5'3" vs 5'3"–5'5"

Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

76%Possible

Jane Doe — Campo, California

UP93595 • Found Jan 14, 1997

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 18–25 vs 19

Race 100%Hispanic

Location 49%261 mi away

TimingFound same day as last seen

Height 84%5'1" vs 5'3"–5'5"

Weight 100%142 lb vs 130–140 lb

Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

Eyes 90%Black vs Brown

76%Possible

Jane Doe — Stanfield, Arizona

UP8805 • Found Dec 8, 2010

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 19 when missing

Race 100%Hispanic

Location 92%40 mi away, same state

TimingFound 14 years after last seen

Height 84%5'1" vs 5'3"–5'5"

76%Possible

Jane Doe — Picacho Peak, Arizona

UP5573 • Found Nov 17, 2007

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 15–19 vs 19 when missing

Race 100%Hispanic

Location 84%68 mi away, same state

TimingFound 11 years after last seen

Height 100%5'3" vs 5'3"–5'5"

76%Possible

Jane Doe — Ajo, Arizona

UP6446 • Found Nov 19, 2003

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 18–23 vs 19 when missing

Race 100%Hispanic

Location 79%87 mi away, same state

TimingFound 7 years after last seen

Height 84%5'1" vs 5'3"–5'5"

Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

76%Possible

Jane Doe — Crow Hang Village, Arizona

UP6567 • Found Feb 10, 2003

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 20–29 vs 19 when missing

Race 100%Hispanic

Location 75%99 mi away, same state

TimingFound 6 years after last seen

Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"–5'5"

Hair 60%Black vs Brown

76%Possible

Jane Doe — Arizona

UP1946 • Found Aug 6, 1997

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 100%Est. 16–20 vs 19

Location 84%70 mi away, same county

TimingFound 7 months after last seen

Height 100%5'3"–5'6" vs 5'3"–5'5"

Hair 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.

Maria Mauricio Missing Person Case

Last seen in Phoenix, Arizona on Jan 20, 1997

Victim Details

Case Description

Links to Additional Sources (6)

Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

Latest News

The Disappearance of Jamie Curtis

Older brother, 6, accidentally shoots and kills sister, 4, with teen sibling’s gun: authorities

Serial killer Ted Bundy linked to another Utah girl's cold case murder

LINDSAY CLANCY CONFESSES, GRIPES “LACK OF SEX” IN GREEDY MONEY GRAB

MP of the week: Lisa Irwin

Body Found in Waterloo During Search For Edwin Geer

Sinister mugshot revealed of madman who recruited creep to sexually assault his fiancée at their home

Manhunt underway after Toronto family violently attacked in home invasion

WALKING DEAD: CHRISTA PIKE FACING HANGMAN’S NOOSE?

Missing Arizona Woman Found Alive in Mexico

Forum Posts (3)

Other Missing Cases from Phoenix, Arizona