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Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP153230) and 1 other source
The disappearance of James Rowe III is a perplexing case that has stretched over many years and across international borders, leaving his family with unanswered questions. In the summer of 2015, 33-year-old James Rowe III was last seen in Tucson, Arizona. At the time he went missing, he was described as a Black/African American male, standing 68 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The circumstances leading to his disappearance are complicated by a significant gap in communication with his loved ones, who were unaware of his whereabouts for an extended period before officially reporting him missing.

The timeline of James Rowe III's case is marked by sporadic and concerning pieces of information that have done little to paint a clear picture of his fate. Although he was last seen in Arizona in 2015, his family had not spoken with him since 2014, at which point he had told them he was residing in Frederick, Maryland. It wasn't until August 7, 2019, that his family, deeply concerned by the prolonged silence, filed a missing person report with the Frederick Police Department. The investigation that followed uncovered a few fragmented clues about his movements after he was last seen. Records indicate that he crossed the border from Mexico in 2016. Furthermore, his last known financial activity was an ATM transaction in Mazatlán, Mexico, in 2018. That same year, he was slated to be a passenger on a flight, but airline records show he was a 'no board,' meaning he never got on the plane.

The investigation into James Rowe III's disappearance remains open, a mosaic of disparate facts that have yet to form a complete image. The lack of contact with his family for a year before his last confirmed sighting in Tucson, coupled with his subsequent known movements in Mexico, adds layers of complexity to the case. The finality of the 'no board' status on his 2018 flight is a particularly haunting detail, representing a significant dead end in his last known travel plans. The Frederick Police Department continues to be the primary agency handling his case, holding out hope that new information will surface to provide clarity and bring peace to his family. The overview of the case reveals a man who seemingly vanished, with his last known connections to his past life being a brief conversation with family, a sighting in Arizona, and a few digital footprints left behind in Mexico.

Last Seen: Aug 17, 2015

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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.

76%Possible
John Doe — Sil Nakya Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP94991
John Doe — Sil Nakya Village, Arizona
UP94991 • Found Jul 6, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 89%49 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 75%5'2"–5'9" vs 5'8"
75%Possible
John Doe — Near Eloy, Arizona - unidentified case UP16476
John Doe — Near Eloy, Arizona
UP16476 • Found Sep 11, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 33 when missing
Location 90%48 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
75%Possible
John Doe — Mesa, Arizona - unidentified case UP148478
John Doe — Mesa, Arizona
UP148478 • Found Jul 24, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 27–37 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 77%94 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%5'2"–5'6" vs 5'8"
Hair 100%Black 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.

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