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 (MP41575) and 1 other source
On April 14, 2003, a 25-year-old man named Brandon Cruz was last seen outside of his home in the Bronx, New York. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a White and Hispanic male, standing between 5'8' and 6'0' tall and weighing between 190 and 210 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes. Distinctive features included scars on the top of his head, his right arm, and his lower back. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are unsettling, as it is believed that he was the victim of an alleged kidnapping. The New York City Police Department's Major Case Squad is the primary investigating agency, and a report was filed on April 15, 2003.

The details of the alleged kidnapping that led to Brandon Cruz's disappearance remain scarce. The incident is said to have occurred right outside his residence in the Bronx, a fact that adds a layer of concern for his loved ones and the community. Despite the passage of time, the case has not seen significant breakthroughs, and information about potential suspects or motives has not been publicly released. The lack of new leads has left his family with unanswered questions and the continuous pain of not knowing what happened to him.

The investigation into Brandon Cruz's disappearance is ongoing. His case is listed in national missing persons databases, and law enforcement continues to seek any information that could lead to a resolution. The passage of years has not diminished the hope of finding answers for Brandon and his family. The overview of this case is one of sudden and unexplained loss, with the central mystery being the alleged kidnapping that took him from his home. The lack of witnesses and concrete evidence has made this a challenging case for investigators from the outset.

Last Seen: Apr 14, 2003

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.

84%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP8825
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP8825 • Found Mar 16, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 98%168 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5231
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5231 • Found Jun 7, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 100%181 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — New Jersey
UP8722 • Found Apr 21, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 31–51 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 100%225 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5230
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5230 • Found May 30, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%14 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 52%127 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5602
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5602 • Found Jul 26, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 84%Est. 30–45 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 100%220 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP9178
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP9178 • Found Jul 1, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 100%198 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5612
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5612 • Found Dec 1, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'8"–6'0"
81%Moderate
John Doe — Jersey City, New Jersey - unidentified case UP6785
John Doe — Jersey City, New Jersey
UP6785 • Found Jul 29, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%6'2" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 100%209 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Blue vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5668
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5668 • Found Jun 17, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 67%Est. 30–50 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP81157
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP81157 • Found May 26, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same state
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–6'0"
Weight 98%168 lb vs 190–210 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown

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.