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Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP99283) and 1 other source
In the winter of 2007, a 30-year-old Colombian Army sergeant named Mario-Alberto Buelvas-Perez vanished from New York City, leaving behind a profound and enduring mystery. He had traveled to the United States for a helicopter repair training course in Virginia, a course he successfully completed. On January 1, 2007, he arrived in Manhattan, intending to enjoy a few days in the city before his scheduled flight back to his home in Colombia. He checked into a hotel and was in regular contact with his wife, expressing his eagerness to return to his family. However, these hopeful communications would soon cease, marking the beginning of a long and painful period of uncertainty for his loved ones.

The alarm was raised when Mario-Alberto failed to return to Colombia as planned. His wife, filled with a growing sense of dread, contacted the authorities. An investigation by the New York City Police Department revealed a perplexing scene at his hotel. All of his personal belongings, including his documents and the gifts he had purchased for his family, were found untouched in his room. It was as if he had simply walked out, intending to return, but never did. The last confirmed sighting of him was of him leaving his hotel. From that moment on, Mario-Alberto Buelvas-Perez, a husband and father, seemed to have vanished without a trace.

Despite the passage of years, the case of Mario-Alberto Buelvas-Perez remains unsolved, a cold case that has left a family in limbo. The lack of any conclusive leads has been a source of ongoing anguish for his mother and two children, who continue to hold out hope for answers. His disappearance has garnered attention within both the Colombian and international communities, particularly given his military background and the abrupt nature of his disappearance in a foreign country. The investigation, led by the New York City Police Department's Missing Persons Squad, remains open, a silent testament to a life interrupted and a family's unending search for closure. The official narrative is sparse, stating only that he was last seen leaving his hotel, a simple act that marked the beginning of a complex and heartbreaking mystery.

Last Seen: Jan 1, 2007

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

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.

78%Possible
John Doe — Jersey City, New Jersey - unidentified case UP6785
John Doe — Jersey City, New Jersey
UP6785 • Found Jul 29, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%6 mi away
TimingFound 19 months after last seen
Height 100%6'2" vs 6'2"
Weight 54%209 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
77%Possible
John Doe — Long Branch, New Jersey - unidentified case UP2635
John Doe — Long Branch, New Jersey
UP2635 • Found Jul 28, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 30 when missing
Location 94%33 mi away
TimingFound 19 months after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 6'2"
Weight 95%140 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5231
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5231 • Found Jun 7, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 68%5'11" vs 6'2"
Weight 94%181 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP137367
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP137367 • Found Jan 2, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Hispanic
Location 100%8 mi away, same state
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'2"
Weight 35%220 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Black
75%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP8825
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP8825 • Found Mar 16, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 30 when missing
Race 60%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 52%5'10" vs 6'2"
Weight 100%168 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black

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.