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 (MP18411) and 6 other sources
In the late summer of 1994, a young man named Jeronimo Mendoza Rico vanished from his life in Rochester, New York, leaving behind a void of information and a family waiting for answers. On August 21, 1994, the 25-year-old male was at his residence when a distressing phone call with his girlfriend prompted him to leave. He walked out of his home that day and was never seen or heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, Jeronimo, a man of White and Hispanic descent with black hair, brown eyes, and a mustache, was wearing a distinctive blue jacket with the word 'Alpine' written on the back, a red short-sleeved shirt, camel-colored jeans, and white sneakers.

The initial months following Jeronimo's departure were filled with an unnerving silence. For reasons that are not publicly detailed, his family did not officially report him as a missing person until March 1, 1995, more than six months after he was last seen. The Rochester Police Department formally filed the report on March 21, 1995, officially beginning an investigation into a case where the trail had grown cold. This significant delay in reporting his disappearance undoubtedly presented challenges to investigators attempting to retrace his last known steps and gather timely information that might have shed light on where he went or what might have happened to him after he left his home in distress.

Decades have now passed since Jeronimo Rico disappeared, and his case has become a long-standing mystery. Despite the passage of time, very few details have emerged to clarify the circumstances of his vanishing. The investigation remains open, but without new leads, the narrative of what happened after he walked away from that upsetting phone call remains incomplete. The overview of this case is one of sudden departure followed by an enduring and painful lack of closure. A 25-year-old man, upset by a personal conversation, left his home and seemingly vanished, leaving his loved ones to navigate a future filled with unanswered questions about his fate and whereabouts.

Last Seen: Aug 21, 1994

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.

79%Possible
John Doe — Barre, New York
UP12909 • Found May 4, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%31 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'7"
78%Possible
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP7619
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP7619 • Found Dec 28, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 25
Race 100%White
Location 50%254 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%139 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Lewiston, New York
UP14272 • Found Jun 4, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–50 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 84%69 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 99%130 lb vs 145 lb
77%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7267
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7267 • Found Aug 31, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–25 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 50%253 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 79%115 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Rochester, New York
UP161609 • Found Jul 8, 2026
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 32 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'9" vs 5'7"
76%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7059
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP7059 • Found Dec 6, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 49%259 mi away, same state
TimingFound 16 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%145 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5717
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5717 • Found May 30, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 50%255 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 90%167 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Youngstown, New York - unidentified case UP2141
John Doe — Youngstown, New York
UP2141 • Found May 25, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 83%72 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 0%227 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6821
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6821 • Found Aug 13, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 49%259 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 99%130 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Youngstown, New York
UP13044 • Found Sep 6, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 83%72 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 months after last seen

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.

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