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 (MP431) and 5 other sources
In the fall of 2001, a family's life was changed forever when David Sosa Arrieta, a 30-year-old male, vanished from Phoenix, Arizona. On the evening of October 7, 2001, at approximately 8:00 p.m., David was seen leaving his home located in the area of 21st Avenue and Wilshire Drive. He was dressed in a white T-shirt and yellow shorts at the time of his disappearance. That evening was the last time he was ever seen or heard from by his loved ones. A report was filed with the Phoenix Police Department on October 8, 2001, officially beginning the search for the missing man.

Four days after he was last seen, a significant piece of evidence in David's case was discovered. On October 11, 2001, his vehicle, a white two-door 1994 Mercury Cougar with Arizona license plate number NJL509, was found abandoned. The car was located in the vicinity of 18th Street and Washington Street in Phoenix, but there was no sign of David at the scene. David is described as a Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing between 5'6' and 5'8' tall and weighing approximately 180 to 190 pounds. At the time he went missing, he had a beard and mustache. He has several distinct tattoos, including images of a lady and Jesus on his chest, a skull on his upper left arm, a woman wearing a sombrero on his upper right arm, and a spider on one of his legs.

The circumstances surrounding David Arrieta's disappearance quickly led investigators to believe that he had met with foul play. The discovery of his abandoned car without any sign of its driver was a troubling development in the case. The Phoenix Police Department has been handling the investigation since the initial report was filed. Over the years, his case has been documented by national missing persons organizations in the hope of generating new leads. The overview of the case remains unsettling: a young man leaves his residence one evening and disappears, his car is found abandoned days later, and he is never heard from again. Despite the passage of time, the case continues to be an active and unresolved investigation, leaving his family without answers.

Last Seen: Oct 7, 2001

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.

84%Moderate
John Doe — Chico Shunie Village, Arizona - unidentified case UP5470
John Doe — Chico Shunie Village, Arizona
UP5470 • Found Jul 4, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 22–35 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 77%93 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Physical features: Tattoo: skull
82%Moderate
John Doe — Ajo, Arizona - unidentified case UP5394
John Doe — Ajo, Arizona
UP5394 • Found Jul 30, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 26–44 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 79%87 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Physical features: Tattoo: jesu, chest
82%Moderate
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 30
Race 60%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 10 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Weight 100%206 lb vs 180–190 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%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 30 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Casa Grande, Arizona - unidentified case UP4938
John Doe — Casa Grande, Arizona
UP4938 • Found Sep 24, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%41 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Weight 48%119 lb vs 180–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP824
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP824 • Found Dec 28, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–30 vs 30 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Weight 94%156 lb vs 180–190 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Eloy, Arizona
UP5505 • Found May 16, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 26–44 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"–5'8"
Weight 79%142 lb vs 180–190 lb
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona
UP2030 • Found Oct 20, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 24–35 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 89%51 mi away, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"–5'8"
79%Possible
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona - unidentified case UP8769
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona
UP8769 • Found Sep 18, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 95%27 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"–5'8"
79%Possible
John Doe — Casa Grande, Arizona - unidentified case UP6369
John Doe — Casa Grande, Arizona
UP6369 • Found Jul 22, 2009
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%41 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'8"

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.