Rolando Gomez Valdez was 43 when he left his home in Guatemala on January 6, 2006, attempting to travel north toward the United States. He was last seen near Altar, Sonora, Mexico, on January 13, 2006, a staging area used by people preparing to cross into Arizona. At the time he was described as a Hispanic male, between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 150 to 170 pounds, and wearing black clothing.

The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner and the Guatemalan Consulate in Phoenix were notified and a report was filed on January 20, 2006. What happened after his last sighting is not detailed; the harsh terrain and extreme conditions in the Sonoran Desert are noted as serious hazards for migrants. The investigation into his disappearance remains open.

If anyone was in the Altar area or traveling toward Arizona in mid-January 2006 and remembers seeing Rolando Valdez, please share what you know.