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 (MP1064) and 5 other sources
On a December evening in 1993, 34-year-old Manuel Gil Martinez, known to his loved ones as Pettie, was at a party in Phoenix, Arizona. At approximately 9:00 p.m. on December 11th, he was seen leaving the gathering, which was located near 3rd Avenue and Piedmont. He departed with another individual in a white car, driving off into the night. Manuel was a Hispanic male, standing between 5'8' and 5'10' and weighing around 167 to 177 pounds. He had a shaved head with brown hair, brown eyes, and a brown mustache and beard. He was last seen wearing a blue sleeveless tank top, blue jeans, and a Dallas Cowboys cap.

Manuel had numerous distinct tattoos that were a part of his identity. His arms were adorned with multiple tattoos, including a peacock on his upper arm. On the left side of his neck, he had a tattoo of 'el crucifico,' and his chest featured tattoos of flowers and the Virgin Mary. These permanent marks were a testament to his life and beliefs, and they are details that his family holds onto in his absence. The night he vanished, he left behind a life and a family who have now spent decades waiting for answers.

Over a month after he was last seen, on January 23, 1994, the white car Manuel had left the party in was found unoccupied by the Mesa Police Department. The discovery of the abandoned vehicle deepened the mystery surrounding his disappearance and led investigators to suspect that foul play was involved. Since that day, the case has remained open, with the Phoenix Police Department handling the investigation. The circumstances of what happened after Manuel left the party and before the car was found remain unknown. The lack of resolution has left his family in a prolonged state of uncertainty, grappling with the pain of not knowing what became of their beloved Pettie. The case serves as a somber reminder of a life interrupted and the enduring hope for closure.

Last Seen: Dec 11, 1993

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.

89%Strong
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1971
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1971 • Found Apr 7, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 34 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 167–177 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
Physical features: Tattoo: flower, chest
81%Moderate
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona
UP1930 • Found Sep 11, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 34
Race 60%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%175 lb vs 167–177 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
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 34 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 92%41 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 62%119 lb vs 167–177 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%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 34 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 95%27 mi away, same state
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'10"
78%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP819
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP819 • Found Aug 2, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 34 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 167–177 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
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 34 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 98%196 lb vs 167–177 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP2034
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP2034 • Found Jul 27, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Sasabe, Arizona - unidentified case UP7233
John Doe — Sasabe, Arizona
UP7233 • Found Nov 1, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 22–34 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 67%139 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%188 lb vs 167–177 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP1933
John Doe — Arizona
UP1933 • Found Jul 30, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 34 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 20 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 85%137 lb vs 167–177 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP17812
John Doe — Arizona
UP17812 • Found Oct 10, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 33–42 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 75%99 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Name: same last name as tentative name (Cesar Martinez Cancino)

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.