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 (MP43408) and 2 other sources
In the spring of 1996, a 34-year-old man named Samuel Elias Cruz Audelo vanished from Phoenix, Arizona. He was last seen on April 1, 1996, in the vicinity of the 1700 block of West Grovers Avenue. At the time of his disappearance, Samuel was described as a Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing at 5'7' and weighing approximately 150 pounds. Since that day, there has been no contact from him, leaving his family and friends without answers.

The circumstances surrounding Samuel's disappearance remain unclear, with very few details available to the public. The lack of information has made the investigation challenging for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the agency handling his case. Despite the passage of time, his case remains open, a silent testament to a life interrupted. The official report of his disappearance was filed years later, on May 9, 2018, which further complicates the efforts to piece together the events leading up to that day in April 1996.

Decades have passed since Samuel Elias Cruz Audelo was last seen, and his case has grown cold. The passage of time often erodes memories and physical evidence, making the search for answers increasingly difficult. For the loved ones of the missing, the silence and uncertainty can be a heavy burden. The investigation into what happened to Samuel continues, a quiet and persistent search for a man who seemingly disappeared without a trace from a residential street in Phoenix.

Last Seen: Apr 1, 1996

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.

86%Strong
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1971
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1971 • Found Apr 7, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
85%Strong
John Doe — Mesa, Arizona - unidentified case UP1947
John Doe — Mesa, Arizona
UP1947 • Found Aug 23, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%14 mi away, same county
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
85%Strong
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1949
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1949 • Found Aug 4, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 16 months after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 93%130 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP819
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP819 • Found Aug 2, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP2036
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP2036 • Found Jul 26, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP1977
John Doe — Arizona
UP1977 • Found Nov 10, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 84%123 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona - unidentified case UP6601
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona
UP6601 • Found Nov 22, 2009
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%142 lb vs 150 lb
81%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona
UP2029 • Found Nov 23, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%161 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona
UP1942 • Found Sep 3, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 34
Race 100%White
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 52%5'3" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Winterhaven, California - unidentified case UP15292
John Doe — Winterhaven, California
UP15292 • Found May 31, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 64%156 mi away
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown 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.