Maereg Tesfaye Tafesse, 24, was last seen in Seattle in early March 2018; reports give his final contact as either March 1 or March 3. He is a Black man about six feet two inches, 160–165 pounds, with long black hair, a beard, and a tattoo of black birds in flight on his left hand.

Originally from Ethiopia, Maereg came to the United States in 2012 to pursue education, living in Worcester, Massachusetts, then in Oregon and California before settling in Seattle. Described as quiet, intelligent and compassionate, he often helped people experiencing homelessness and had told family shortly before he vanished that he planned to leave the United States, but there is no evidence he did so.

His mother traveled to the U.S. and hired private investigators while the Seattle Police Department has handled the case. If anyone in Seattle in March 2018 remembers Maereg or saw someone matching his description, please come forward with information.