3-Year-Old Texas Girl Vanished from Playground, Police Fear She's in 'Immediate Danger' Dulce Alavez, 5, Still Missing After Vanishing from N.J. Park 2 Months Ago: 'We Remain Hopeful' Officials in New Jersey have received more than a dozen calls since releasing a composite sketch of a possible eyewitness in the disappearance of 5-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez, Bridgeton Police. The persons intent might not have been to take a kid, said Garrabrant. Authorities -- including state, local and federal -- are working "to determine those who are responsible" for her disappearance, the statement said. She included a screenshot of the post in her announcement with the words false information written over the image. Noema stayed in the car with her younger sister. Some at the park questioned how the then-19-year-old mother could eat while her child had been missing for a full day. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Oct 9, 2019 0 Dulce Maria Alavez disappeared Sept. 16 from a playground at Bridgeton City Park. Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media. On September 18, a vigil was held at the park. Home. In response to a reporters request, Alavez Perez took some of Dulces favorite outfits out of storage, including a pink top with a butterfly on the front and blue skirt with multi-colored flowers. In 1963, she was named Texas Woman of the Year by Progressive Farmer Magazine and was honored in the Texas House of Representatives for her contribution to the literature of Texas and for her civic work in the Bryan-College Station area and Texas at large. Dulce Maria Alavez (born April 25, 2014 disappeared September 16, 2019)[1] is an American girl who vanished near a playground in Bridgeton, New Jersey and is believed to have been abducted. Bridgeton Police officer Josh Thompson, the director of PAL and 25-year-veteran, said the department doesnt want people to feel scared if they have concerns about their legal status and withhold information that could delay finding Dulce. She likes to be around like smaller kids. Published May 23, 2022 Dulce Maria Alavez vanished from Bridgeton City Park in New Jersey on September 16, 2019. ET on ABC. When asked if Noema knew who might have taken Dulce, she said an old friend who tried to date her would be her first suspect. There isnt a day she doesnt think about her daughter. Nice, loving, Perez said. Two-year-old Estrella, who had been engrossed in her coloring book, stopped and looked up at her mother. Law enforcements and locals joined forces to try to locate her. She was 5 (right) when she disappeared from a Bridgeton City Park on Sept. 16, 2019. Law enforcement interviewed everyone at the park, and the community came out en masse to help search for Dulce. Crime Junkie's ' Missing: Dulce Maria Alavez' is a podcast that delves deep into this case, examining the circumstances that led to Dulce's disappearance and her loved ones' push to find out what happened to her. Robert Crayton Jr., 45, fatally shot his wife and three NBC10 reporter Cydney Long recently spoke to Dulce's mother. Noema Alavez Perez looks at a photo of her daughter, Dulce Maria Alavez, in the living room of the family's house. Later, Noema appeared on Dr. Phils show. She started doing therapy, but that wasnt really helping.. Noema Alavez Perez speaks to the media about her daughter during a vigil held in November 2019.Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media. police released a sketch based on the second description. Tips may also be phoned in to 1-800-CALL-FBI and select option 4, then select option 8. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Just before 5 p.m. less than an hour after they arrived at the park Alavez Perez called 911 to report the child missing. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, "A 5-Year-Old Girl Went Missing From a Playground. Dulce Alvarez "Umm, I can't find my daughter," a frantic Noema told 911 operators when she reported her daughter missing. Dulce Maria Alavez (5) was last seen at the Bridgeton City Park in Bridgeton, New Jersey on the afternoon of September 16, 2019. County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae told NBC10. western states all the way to Mexico, where the FBI said Dulces father resides daughter is agonizing. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Young kids who are kidnapped may be taken by someone looking to replace a child who was somehow lost, said Garrabrant, while a sexual motive is often a factor in cases involving teens. Folks may be afraid to say anything because they think, Oh, this person would never take a child.. [citation needed] In 2021, along with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children releasing two age-progression images of Alavez as a seven-year-old, FBI special agent Daniel Garrabrant said, "The offender that took Dulce was likely there for a period of time. Why didnt I demand that they close all of Bridgeton? Her mother, Noema Alavez Perez, was sitting in her car 30 yards away helping Dulce's 8-year-old sister with homework. be found alive sooner or later. And kisses. There isnt a day she doesnt think about her daughter. Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood. Five-year-old Dulce Maria Alvarez disappeared more than two months ago, reportedly while playing in a New Jersey park as her mother sat in a car nearby. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The first was a light-skinned Hispanic man, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a thin build, no facial hair and facial acne. She likes to be around like smaller kids. Police also released surveillance images of Dulce at a convenience store from the day she vanished to show the clothes she was wearing. Numerous photos are displayed on the living room walls of the happy, smiling little girl. Nice, loving," Perez told ABC News this year. "I would say I'm sorry for not looking over her," she said while getting emotional. "We believe there are witnesses out there who saw the abductor, who saw the vehicle in the area of the park and either haven't come forward because they're afraid to come forward or haven't come forward because they don't realize how important the information is that they have," Garrabrant told Action News last year. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. If she were Dulces cousin, then she would be Noemas niece. Dulces mother acknowledged police still ask periodically to review her cellphone, including earlier this year. Agents have spent thousands of hours scouring gigabytes of surveillance video from homes and buildings in the immediate area around the park in search of a suspect vehicle. She was last seen near a playground. (Bridgeton Police Department). All rights reserved. Alavez Perez, who was born and raised in Bridgeton, said she doesnt know why anyone would target her. He denied having anything to do with his daughters disappearance. Information like this is a distraction to the investigation and causes unnecessary grief to the family of missing child Dulce Maria Alavez, Webb-McRae wrote. . The FBI and New Jersey State Police are working with local. that the COVID-19 pandemic has impeded some of the work involved in the He tries to say the words, but he cant find the correct words to use.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Or come after me? Im like, OK. Ill be cooperative and I gave it to them, she said. "You have to keep your motor running so you can keep going forward, she added, in Spanish. Shortly after Dylan arrived to his fat She was last seen wearing a yellow shirt with an elephant on the front, black and white pants and white sandals. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. After the group got ice cream from a local store, they went to the city park in Bridgeton behind the high school in the area. Anyone with information on Dulces whereabouts is asked to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678), the Bridgeton Police Department at 1-856-451-0033, or the FBI at 1-800-225-5324. Authorities believe Dulce Maria Alavez was taken from an area near a playground in Bridgeton City Park on Sept. 16, 2019, while her mother sat in a car nearby. In this case, it was broad daylight, mom being distracted for a short period of time and Dulce and her brother being far enough away, Garrabrant said. Theres 6-year-old Manuel, who was with Dulce when she disappeared in the park, but the then-3-year-old wasnt very verbal at the time and was unable to say what happened to his sister. On Sept. 16, 2019, 5-year-old Dulce Alavez was playing with her younger brother during a family outing at Bridgeton City Park in southern New Jersey. The boy pointed behind some buildings saying his sister went that way, Alavez Prez said, adding that she initially thought the girl was playing hide-and-seek. DULCE MARIA ALAVEZ Bridgeton, New Jersey Monday, September 16, 2019 Photograph age progressed to 7 years DESCRIPTION Date(s) of Birth Used: April 25, 2014 Hair: Brown, Long Alavez Perez vowed to never lose hope that she will see Dulce again. Just last month, someone claiming to be Dulce's father posted a video on YouTube, saying he had nothing to do with the case. The boy pointed behind some buildings saying his sister went that way, Alavez Prez said, adding that she initially thought the girl was playing hide-and-seek. And that's exactly what the program aims to do. Neither her father, her mother, nor any other members of Dulces family have been named as suspects in her case. I feel sad, empty that Dulces not here today.. - Published on December 6, 2019. What are the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert? It's been really hard for me and for my parents, knowing that Dulce doesnt appear, Perez, told ABC News. So, if youre curious to find out the same, heres what we know! Dulce Maria Alavez disappeared on Sept. 16, 2019, in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Missing: Dulce Maria Alavez is a podcast that delves deep into this case, examining the circumstances that led to Dulces disappearance and her loved ones push to find out what happened to her. However, they repeatedly noted the family continues to cooperate. Who is Julia Faustyna, the Polish woman who claims shes Madeleine McCann? As her family and the community prepare to mark the third anniversary of her disappearance, the girls whereabouts remain unknown. She answered no. We dont have any solid suspects, we are investigating all the possibilities. and has been cooperating with authorities. Mother of Dulce Maria Alavez expresses regret, defies critics one year after child vanished, 'I can't find my daughter': 911 call released in search for Dulce Maria Alavez, TIMELINE: The search for 5-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez, Mother of missing NJ girl Dulce Marie Alavez tells Dr. Phil she suspects 'old friend' took her daughter, New Jersey girl missing nearly 6 weeks as search continues. "She was a sweet girl. They were looking for a child, maybe their age or gender."[11]. have driven off in a red van. The service for Dulce Mara. Copyright National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Alavez Perez keeps them neatly packed away, though she knows the clothing would no longer fit Dulce, who would now be 8 years old. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. All rights reserved, Atlantic City Boat Show Sets Sails on Jersey Shore With Virtual Reality Twist, $25M Bankroll Ready to Open Doors to Sports Fans, Mobile Bettors in Center City, Disgraced Ex-Philly Councilman Gets Years in Federal Prison, PennDOT Begins Work to Cap I-95, Build Park at Penn's Landing, This 26-Year-Old Pays $0 to Live in a Luxury Tiny Home' She Built for $35,000 in Her Backyard Take a Look Inside, Wells Fargo Closes 3 Branches in the Philadelphia Area, Plans to Shutter 3 More. Dulce disappeared from a New Jersey park during a family outing on Sept. 16, 2019. The heartbreaking case of a missing little girl who vanished without a trace. I dont go by myself, I go with someone else to help me watch over my kids.. We havent given it away. There are the colorful outfits she wore in photos displayed all over the house. I say to myself, why didnt I make more demands, demand more help? Because I cant be depressed, she said, her voice cracking and her eyes welling with tears. "For the community, when everything started, they were scared they were going to get deported because Bridgeton is mostly Mexicans," said the girl's mother, Noema Alavez Perez. They described him as a light-skinned, possibly Hispanic man standing between 5-feet-6 and 5-feet-8 with a thin build and acne on his face. It's been over a year and a half since the then 5-year-old Dulce Mara Alavez disappeared from a Bridgeton playground on September 16, 2019. Her mother, Noema Alavez Perez, was sitting in her car just 30 yards away helping her 8-year-old sister do homework. Sample Page; ; But, investigators say they combed through video from various surveillance cameras and have identified all vehicles remotely matching that description that were in the area that day. This Web site is funded, in part, through a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Phil show,Noema told Dr. Phil I asked her brother what happened. Police told NJ.com at the time that they were still trying to verify the authenticity of the video. We are asking this person (or anyone who may recognize him) to come forward as investigators wish to speak with him as it is believed that he may have information that is helpful in determining the circumstances that led to Dulces disappearance, the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office said. Dulce is described as around 3 feet 5 with brown eyes and brown hair. The FBI got involved fairly quickly and an Amber Alert was issued the day after she disappeared. Dulce, who was 5 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen Sept. 16, 2019, playing with her 3-year-old brother in the park. On October 3, the 911 call made by Dulce's mother on the day she disappeared was released. For now, the investigators remain hopeful that the little girl is still alive because nothing pointed to her being dead. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. That individual could be the abductor, FBI special agent Daniel Garrabrant said during a 2020 interview with NJ Advance Media, noting that the man had yet to be identified or located. She spoke about the moments after Dulce vanished, her regrets about that day and her lingering suspicions about who may have abducted the girl. Dulces disappearance is still on everyones mind. He was wearing a black shirt, red pants, and orange sneakers, possibly Nike brand. Any information, no matter how small or insignificant, might be the puzzle piece that leads us to identify the person responsible for Dulces disappearance.. We have literally gotten thousands and thousands of red van leads, FBI agent Garrabrant said in 2020. Dulce was last seen on Sept. 16, 2019, while playing with her 3-year-old brother at the Bridgeton City Park behind Bridgeton High School. During that time, Perez said she was scratching a . The house was alive with laughter and scampering feet as Alavez Perez, who teared up at times, spoke about their missing older sister. Episode Summary. changed in our family, Alavez Prez said. Dulce Maria Alavez was just 5-years-old when she suddenly disappeared from a playground in Bridgeton, New Jersey, in September 2019. [2] A reward has been offered for finding Alavez.[3][4]. She was last seen at a Bridgeton park wearing a yellow shirt with an elephant on it, as. She found Dulces younger brother alone crying with his ice cream on the ground. While the pin code was traced back to a city in Mexico, the rest of the address was difficult to understand. She gave There isnt a day she doesnt think about her daughter. I dont know, she said in Spanish. She was a sweet girl. A $75,000 reward is still being offered for information that leads to an arrest in this case. It was a crime of opportunity. The family sometimes asks him what he remembers about the day Dulce vanished. On October 3, the 911 call made by Dulces mother on the day she disappeared was released. leads. They were so much alike many people reported it to the police working the case and they basically had to state, "Look, it's impossible. 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