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 (MP41247) and 3 other sources
In the fall of 2017, a family's life was changed when 16-year-old Axel Emerson Guzman-Laynez vanished. On September 20, 2017, the young man was last seen in Phoenix, Arizona. At the time of his disappearance, the Hispanic male teen was dressed in a checkered long-sleeve shirt, dress pants held up with a black leather belt, and green or brown Timberland boots. The day he went missing was just another day until he was suddenly gone, leaving behind a void and a series of unanswered questions for his loved ones and the community. The circumstances surrounding the moment he was last seen are not publicly detailed, adding a layer of painful uncertainty to the case.

Axel was described as being 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 140 pounds at the time he went missing. He had black hair and brown eyes. Beyond these basic physical descriptors, little else has been shared publicly about the specific events leading up to his disappearance. This lack of information creates a challenging landscape for investigators and a source of continuous distress for a family left to wonder what happened to their son. For years, there have been no public updates on his whereabouts or the status of the investigation, leaving a painful silence where answers should be.

The Phoenix Police Department is the primary agency investigating the disappearance of Axel Emerson Guzman-Laynez. His case is also listed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System ensuring his information is accessible to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The case remains a poignant and unresolved story of a teenager who disappeared from his life in Phoenix without a clear explanation. The overview of this case is one of profound and sudden loss, with very few details available to the public regarding the circumstances of what happened on that September day. It is the story of a young man whose family awaits any information that might bring a resolution to their enduring uncertainty.

Last Seen: Sep 20, 2017

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.

82%Moderate
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona - unidentified case UP67431
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona
UP67431 • Found Mar 8, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%4'10"–5'2" vs 5'1"
81%Moderate
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona - unidentified case UP81707
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona
UP81707 • Found May 11, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–18 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 89%51 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 68%5'4" vs 5'1"
Weight 100%120–140 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP75357
John Doe — Arizona
UP75357 • Found Jul 24, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–22 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 84%70 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 68%5'4" vs 5'1"
Weight 100%120–135 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — southwest of Picture Rocks, Arizona - unidentified case UP67780
John Doe — southwest of Picture Rocks, Arizona
UP67780 • Found Nov 13, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 78%90 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'1"
77%Possible
John Doe — Cowlic Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP94305
John Doe — Cowlic Village, Arizona
UP94305 • Found Jun 18, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–23 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 73%109 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0" vs 5'1"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
77%Possible
John Doe — Sells, Arizona - unidentified case UP71763
John Doe — Sells, Arizona
UP71763 • Found Mar 9, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 74%107 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'6" vs 5'1"
77%Possible
John Doe — Granite Tank, Arizona - unidentified case UP66455
John Doe — Granite Tank, Arizona
UP66455 • Found Sep 27, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 74%107 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'7" vs 5'1"
76%Possible
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona - unidentified case UP98380
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona
UP98380 • Found Nov 5, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–21 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 75%99 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'6" vs 5'1"
76%Possible
John Doe — Ahan Owuch, Arizona - unidentified case UP93691
John Doe — Ahan Owuch, Arizona
UP93691 • Found Jun 19, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 77%92 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'5" vs 5'1"
76%Possible
John Doe — Near Ajo, Arizona - unidentified case UP54288
John Doe — Near Ajo, Arizona
UP54288 • Found Jul 23, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 86%Est. 18–30 vs 16
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 79%87 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 months after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'6" vs 5'1"

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.