Jesse Gabriel Florez was 14 when he left his family home in Phoenix on the evening of September 14, 2001. He told his mother he loved her and would be home early for school the next day, and he set out around 6:00 p.m. for a party within walking distance near 55th Avenue and Indian School Road. He never arrived.

Jesse is Hispanic, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown and black checkered flannel short-sleeved shirt over a white t-shirt, navy blue pants, a plain white baseball cap and a Levi’s jacket. He wore several pieces of jewelry, including a silver and diamond earring and a small gold hoop in his left ear, a watch, and possibly a necklace with a crucifix and a marijuana pendant. Distinguishing marks include a tattoo of the letter J on the hand between thumb and index finger, a small black mole at the corner of his right eye, and two left-ear piercings.

Family and friends searched the neighborhood, distributed posters and held public events; police say they continue to investigate and believe witnesses with information exist. Jesse’s family remembers him by his aspirations to be a businessman and architect and by his nickname Lil Droopy. If anyone knew Jesse, saw him that night, or has information about his route near 55th Avenue and Indian School Road, please come forward.