On a late afternoon in September 2019, five-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez was at a playground in Bridgeton City Park, New Jersey, with her three-year-old brother. Their mother and eight-year-old aunt remained in a car about 30 yards away. The family had stopped for ice cream before arriving at the park, and the children ran off to play. Dulce was last seen wearing a yellow shirt with a koala on the front, black and white pants with a flower pattern, and white sandals.
A short time later, her younger brother returned to the car alone and crying. When his mother asked where Dulce was, he pointed toward some red buildings near the play area. After a frantic search of the immediate area, Dulce's mother called the police for help.
The initial report sparked a massive search effort involving numerous police officers and community volunteers who scoured the park and surrounding woods, but found no trace of the little girl. An Amber Alert was issued, which described a possible abductor as a light-skinned Hispanic male with a thin build and acne, who was reportedly seen leading Dulce into a red van with a sliding door and tinted windows. This individual was said to be wearing a black shirt, red pants, and orange sneakers. Authorities also later released a composite sketch of another man they identified as a potential witness. This person of interest was described as a Hispanic male, approximately 30 to 35 years old, with a slender build, who was wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and a white baseball cap. Despite extensive investigation into vehicles matching the van's description, no definitive link to the case has been made.
In the years that have followed, the search for Dulce has continued relentlessly, with the FBI joining local law enforcement in the investigation. Her family has held vigils and made public pleas for her safe return, holding onto hope. Investigators have pursued leads across state lines, including a search in Ohio, but have not yet named any strong suspects. To keep the public's memory of Dulce fresh and to adapt to her changing appearance, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has released age-progressed images showing what she might look like as she gets older. The case has been plagued by false rumors on social media, including incorrect reports that her remains were found, which have been publicly debunked by prosecutors. Recently, investigators have begun using artificial intelligence to analyze evidence and search for new connections that may have been missed. A substantial reward remains in place for information that leads to a breakthrough. The case remains an active investigation, an overview of a heart-wrenching mystery where a young child vanished from a public park in broad daylight, leaving her family and community searching for answers.Last Seen: Sep 16, 2019
