Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP57737) and 1 other source
Francis Pineda Martinez, a 23-year-old man from McAllen, Texas, went missing on March 12, 2012. Originally from Mexico, Francis was reportedly traveling with another individual when he vanished between Reynosa, Mexico, and McAllen, Texas. His disappearance is suspected to be connected to organized crime in the region, as shortly after his phone was contacted, an unidentified man responded, saying that both Francis and his companion had been taken to work for the Zetas, a notorious Mexican drug cartel. This unsettling communication raised fears that he may have been abducted by the cartel, which is known for human trafficking and other illicit activities along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Francis' case has not seen significant updates since his disappearance, leaving his family and authorities with few clues. His missing person case remains unsolved, despite efforts to gather information through various channels, including crowdsourcing tips and raising public awareness. His physical description at the time of his disappearance included black hair, a height of 5'6", and a weight of around 170 pounds. The involvement of the Zetas, combined with the dangerous environment around the border during that time, adds a layer of complexity to his case, making it particularly difficult to investigate. However, organizations dedicated to missing persons continue to seek tips and information that could lead to breakthroughs in this cold case.
Last Seen: Mar 12, 2012

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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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
John Doe — Mission, Texas
UP81370 • Found May 23, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–29 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%167 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
83%Moderate
John Doe — Pharr, Texas
UP11214 • Found Apr 11, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 23 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 13 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Pharr, Texas
UP104060 • Found Apr 11, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
Weight 94%192 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Mission, Texas
UP11771 • Found Oct 31, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 23 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 20 months after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
Weight 96%150 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Hidalgo, Texas
UP10623 • Found Sep 13, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 23
Race 60%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"
Weight 73%130 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
80%Moderate
John Doe — Texas - unidentified case UP15115
John Doe — Texas
UP15115 • Found Jun 9, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–25 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"
80%Moderate
John Doe — Texas - unidentified case UP14850
John Doe — Texas
UP14850 • Found Jun 8, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–27 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"
80%Moderate
John Doe — Texas
UP10170 • Found Apr 11, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 23
Race 60%White
Location 98%18 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 weeks after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
Weight 73%130 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Texas
UP107455 • Found Aug 8, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"
Weight 40%109 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Texas
UP73055 • Found Jan 10, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–27 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 91%44 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'5" vs 5'6"

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.