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 (MP3887) and 2 other sources
On a December day in 1996, 21-year-old Marco Antonio Lopez told his family he was heading to a party in South Phoenix, Arizona. He was last seen on December 12th of that year in the area of North 19th Avenue and West Missouri Avenue as he got into a vehicle with a friend he knew. After that moment, Marco was never seen or heard from again, beginning a long and painful period of uncertainty for his family. At the time he went missing, Marco was described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighing between 175 and 185 pounds, with both brown hair and brown eyes. The circumstances of his disappearance were immediately concerning to his loved ones and authorities, who have long suspected that foul play was involved.

Investigators and family members have hoped that Marco's distinct physical characteristics might lead to a breakthrough in the case. He has a noticeable circular scar on his left cheek, a feature that could easily distinguish him. In addition, he has several tattoos, including the letters 'WWC' on his left shoulder and also on his outer left forearm. He carried one of his nicknames, 'Sparky,' as a tattoo in the web of his hand or finger, a personal mark that friends would have recognized. Known also by the names David Angel Campos and Marco Antonio Lopez-Lopez, these details have been circulated in the hope that someone, somewhere, might recall seeing him.

The Phoenix Police Department has been investigating the disappearance of Marco Lopez for decades, but the case has grown cold with the passage of time. Efforts have been made to keep his profile active in law enforcement databases, including the submission of DNA from his sister to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for comparison against unidentified remains. Despite these measures and the enduring pain of his family, no definitive answers have surfaced to explain what happened to him after he entered his friend's car. The case remains a poignant story of loss and ambiguity, an overview of a young man who vanished, leaving behind a family searching for closure and the truth about his fate.

Last Seen: Dec 12, 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.

81%Moderate
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona - unidentified case UP2028
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona
UP2028 • Found Nov 23, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 21 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 100%196 lb vs 175–185 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — El Mirage, Arizona - unidentified case UP478
John Doe — El Mirage, Arizona
UP478 • Found Sep 28, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 21 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 98%18 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 80%139 lb vs 175–185 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
Physical features: Tattoo: web
78%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP2059
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP2059 • Found Jul 24, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–30 vs 21 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 97%206 lb vs 175–185 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP17811
John Doe — Arizona
UP17811 • Found Jul 7, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 77%Est. 17–19 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 75%99 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 54%120 lb vs 175–185 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona - unidentified case UP12560
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona
UP12560 • Found Nov 1, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–24 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 89%51 mi away, same county
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona - unidentified case UP6045
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona
UP6045 • Found Mar 29, 2009
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–21 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 95%27 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 54%120 lb vs 175–185 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Arizona City, Arizona - unidentified case UP5086
John Doe — Arizona City, Arizona
UP5086 • Found Dec 3, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 88%53 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–5'11"
77%Possible
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP5586
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
UP5586 • Found Feb 19, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–21 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 74%106 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 65%127 lb vs 175–185 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Winterhaven, California - unidentified case UP13178
John Doe — Winterhaven, California
UP13178 • Found Jun 15, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 16–40 vs 21 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 64%156 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 98%155 lb vs 175–185 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
Physical features: Tattoo: web, hand
77%Possible
John Doe — Arizona
UP2029 • Found Nov 23, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 21 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 100%161 lb vs 175–185 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.