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

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP21661) and 2 other sources
In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of the Arizona desert, the story of Jeremias Cuellar Zuniga's disappearance began to unfold. On August 13, 2012, the 27-year-old male was last seen in the Sonoita area of Santa Cruz County. At the time, he was described as being 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 190 pounds, with black hair and black eyes. He was reportedly wearing a long-sleeved black flannel shirt, black jeans, and brown work shoes. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are harrowing; after walking for about four days, he collapsed from exhaustion. The group he was with left him behind with some water, and he has not been seen or heard from since.

The official report of his disappearance was filed with the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office, which opened an investigation into the matter. Details provided in his missing person file paint a somber picture of his last known moments. The case, registered under NamUs number MP21661, documents the bleak reality that his companions were forced to leave him in a vulnerable state in the harsh wilderness. The area where he was last seen is known for its rugged terrain, a factor that complicates search and recovery efforts and adds to the distress of his unknown fate.

The case of Jeremias Cuellar Zuniga remains an open and unresolved tragedy. With no new leads or information surfacing in the years since he vanished, the narrative of his disappearance is one of abrupt and silent departure. The lack of resolution leaves a void for those who may have known him, a story without an ending. The investigation, led by the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office, stands as a quiet testament to a life interrupted, a stark reminder of the perils that can befall individuals in the vast, remote stretches of the American Southwest. The overview of his case is a brief, sorrowful account of a man who succumbed to the elements and was left behind, his ultimate fate still a mystery.

Last Seen: Aug 13, 2012

Links to Additional Sources (2)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

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.

81%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP13034
John Doe — Arizona
UP13034 • Found Jun 25, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 85%65 mi away, same state
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Cowlic, Tohono O'Odham Nation, Arizona - unidentified case UP12076 View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–36 vs 27
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 81%79 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 months after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'2"
Weight 60%136 lb vs 190 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Near Big Field Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP11595
John Doe — Near Big Field Village, Arizona
UP11595 • Found May 8, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 27
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 85%65 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'2"
Weight 100%176 lb vs 190 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
80%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP12713
John Doe — Arizona
UP12713 • Found Jan 24, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 85%65 mi away, same state
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"
80%Moderate
John Doe — South Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP12008
John Doe — South Tucson, Arizona
UP12008 • Found May 9, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 18–35 vs 27
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%40 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'2"
Weight 56%133 lb vs 190 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Green Valley, Arizona - unidentified case UP126288
John Doe — Green Valley, Arizona
UP126288 • Found Jan 13, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 96%23 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'5" vs 5'2"
79%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 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%41 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'7" vs 5'2"
79%Possible
John Doe — Near Marana, Arizona - unidentified case UP16474
John Doe — Near Marana, Arizona
UP16474 • Found Aug 6, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 86%62 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
79%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP14068
John Doe — Arizona
UP14068 • Found Nov 27, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 85%65 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
79%Possible
John Doe — San Miguel, Arizona - unidentified case UP13163
John Doe — San Miguel, Arizona
UP13163 • Found Jul 1, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 21–31 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 85%66 mi away, same state
TimingFound 23 months after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
Weight 37%120 lb vs 190 lb

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.