Tuesday, September 16, marked six years since the disappearance of Dulce Maria Alavez, the Hispanic girl of Mexican roots who was last seen in Bridgeton Municipal Park in Cumberland County, New Jersey.
Despite the passage of time, authorities say they have not let their guard down in the investigation and renewed their appeal to the public to help solve the case.
Dulce María Alavez, a disappearance that marked the community
Dulce Maria Alavez was just 5 years old when she disappeared on the afternoon of September 16, 2019.
The girl was playing on the swings with her younger brother while her mother, Noema Alavez Perez, remained inside the car with her young daughter.
Minutes later, the child returned crying and Dulce was gone.
Since then, his whereabouts have remained a mystery.
The disappearance sent shockwaves through Bridgeton, a city with a large Hispanic community.
From the beginning, family members, neighbors and volunteers joined in massive searches and vigils to keep the girl’s name alive.
Investigations and leads
During these six years, the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office and Bridgeton Police have followed hundreds of leads.
In 2024 alone, 17 new reports were received from states including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Nevada.
However, none of these lines of investigation succeeded in locating Dulce María Alavez, nor in fully identifying those responsible.
In 2019, authorities released a sketch of a male of Hispanic appearance, between 30 and 35 years old, of slim build and approximately 5’7” tall, who was seen in the area on the day of the disappearance.
Although he remains a person of interest, his direct connection to the case has not been confirmed.
Use of new technologies
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the whereabouts of Dulce Maria Alavez, last seen on September 16, 2019, while playing at the Bridgeton City Park behind Bridgeton High School in Bridgeton, New Jersey: https://t.co/bhCaGsbysX pic.twitter.com/CaeTu3HOmz
– FBI Most Wanted (@FBIMostWanted) September 16, 2025
In order to make progress, researchers have turned to new tools.
Among them are age progression photos showing what Dulce María Alavez might look like today.
The last of these images was released in 2023.
More recently, county prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae reported that the file is being reviewed with artificial intelligence support, which allows for analysis of patterns in evidence collected since 2019.
Also, new teams from the New Jersey State Police have been brought in to bring a fresh look to the case.
The voice of the family
On each anniversary, Dulce María Alavez’s mother remembers the void left by her daughter.
“It’s been six very difficult years without knowing where he is. We just want him to come home,” Noema told local news channel abcNews.
The family, which has grown with the birth of Dulce’s two younger sisters, continues to participate in vigils and community activities to keep her memory alive.
There is currently a $75,000 reward for anyone who provides information leading to finding Dulce or identifying those responsible for her disappearance.
The authorities reiterate that any information can be key.
Esta investigación es como un rompecabezas. Cualquiera que estuviera en el parque ese día podría tener la pieza que falta para resolverlo
Jennifer Webb-McRae, fiscal del condado
Anyone with information can contact the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office through CCPO.TIPS or the New Jersey State Police.
