September 16, 2019The day life forever changed for Noema Alavez Perez when a trip to Bridgeton City Park in New Jersey turned into a never ending search for her daughter Dulce Maria Alavez. Dulce Maria, 5, vanished without a trace and is believed to have been kidnapped possibly by a stranger. I spent some time with Dulce's family recently. They want to tell their story in their own words without anyone else speaking for them. No questions were off-limits. The family has a message for Dulce, for the person who took her and for the community. I also spoke with an FBI Special Agent who heads the East Coast Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team which is assisting Bridgeton Police and New Jersey State Police with the investigation. He believes this was a crime of opportunity and says investigators need the community's help to solve this case. A message to Dulce from her momAnyone with information on Dulce Maria Alavez is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, New Jersey State Police Missing persons Unit at 609-882-2000 ext., 2554, or Bridgeton Police at 856-451-0033.
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Where is Dulce Maria Alavez?A crime of opportunity is how a federal investigator describes the case of Dulce Maria Alavez who vanished while playing in Bridgeton City Park in New Jersey on September 16, 2019. We spoke to Dulce's family and the FBI about the case. Was it a crime of opportunity? Has anyone been ruled out? And what is the family doing to keep Dulce's case in the public eye? Investigators are still looking to identify a man who was seen in the area of the park where Dulce was playing. He's described as a Hispanic male, roughly 5'7", thin, with acne on his chin, and is 30-35 years old. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and a baseball-style hat.  Police sketch of person of interest in the kidnapping of Dulce Maria Alavez, 5, from Bridgeton City Park in New Jersey on September 16, 2019. Anyone with information on Dulce Maria Alavez is asked to call New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at 609-882-2000, ext 2554, the Bridgeton Police Department at 856-451-0033 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The holidays have come and gone, but there's still no sign of Dulce Maria Alavez. The 5-year-old from Bridgeton, New Jersey, was kidnapped on September 16, 2019, during a family outing at Bridgeton City Park. An Amber Alert remains in effect and a $75,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to her whereabouts. Although they've received thousands of tips, efforts to find Dulce Maria by local, state and federal law enforcement have been unsuccessful. A mother's desperate plea for her daughter's safe returnVolunteers have also been doing their own searches of the surrounding area. We spoke to Dulce's mother Noema Perez Alavez during a search on January 5. Click on the video to hear what she had to say. Anyone with information on Dulce Maria Alavez is asked to call New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at 609-882-2000, ext 2554, the Bridgeton Police Department at 856-451-0033 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
May 3, 2020 will mark the third year anniversary of Akia Eggleston's disappearance. The case continues to generate national media coverage, but there are still no answers as to what happened to the 22-year-old mom. Akia, a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, was eight months pregnant when she vanished four days before her baby shower was to take place. We were first to obtain exclusive images of Akia captured by a security camera from a bank in the Inner Harbor on May 3, 2017, that's the day investigators believe she disappeared. Investigators also suspect foul play and have reportedly interviewed over 100 individuals, but they have not named any suspects and there have been no arrests in the case.  Missing Baltimore, Maryland mom Akia Eggleston Photo credit: Shawn Wilkinson Much has been said about the man believed to be the father of Akia's unborn child. The man, who was also a childhood friend of Akia's stepfather, has never spoken publicly about his alleged relationship with Akia or about her disappearance. There are plenty of rumors, speculation, and gossip circulating on social media, but if there is evidence that directly ties him or anyone to Akia's disappearance, investigators are keeping their cards very close to the vest. Since police have not publicly released his name, we are not publishing it on this site, either. However, through our reporting, we've been able to confirm that the individual and his current girlfriend and mother of at least two of his children, have been questioned twice by Baltimore City Police. I recently made contact with someone who knows the man believed to be the father of Akia's unborn son. The source asked not to be identified but did share with me that he has not spoken to the individual in person since Akia disappeared and does not want him around his family. The source also explained that he has spoken at great length with authorities and with Akia's stepfather. Below is some of what the source said: "I only knew Akia for a short time but grew up with her step dad when I was in elementary school. I have nothing but love and hope for him, and I hope that he finds her cuz whatever happened ain't right. I have a daughter, and I can't imagine my daughter missing and her not being found." The source says that he doesn't know where the individual is currently living but finds it hard to believe that he would've harmed Akia. "I'm not happy about Akia missing and him avoiding the situation. I would never support a tragedy like this. He's not that type of person to harm or have someone missing." Why hasn't the alleged father of Akia's baby contacted her step-father or helped search for her or made a public plea for her safe return? To that the source said the following: "If I ever see him I'd probably punch him in the face cuz if he didn't do it, he should have said something. This is crazy, but he not gonna talk to me cuz he know people gonna ask me first about him, and I already been to the police station and talked to the FBI for 4 hrs." The source stressed that he doesn't want his name made public because he has a family and doesn't want to be harassed. On a final note he said this about Akia: "I talked to her stepdad and told him everything I know that he asked. That is all I have to say, and, again, I hope and pray to God that she is found safe and alive!" Our calls and messages left for the man believed to be the father of Akia's son have gone unanswered. If he's reading this, hopefully he and/or his girlfriend will reach out to us. They deserve a chance to be heard. Baltimore City Police have reportedly narrowed their focus down to about a dozen individuals, but they have yet to name any suspects in the case. As they stated to me from the start of this investigation, "This is a real whodunnit." Anyone with information on Akia Eggleston's whereabouts is urged to call Baltimore City Police at 410-396-2499. A combined $25,000 reward is being offered in this case.  You can follow our exclusive ongoing coverage of Akia Eggleston's disappearance on this site and also on Youtube.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Brian Noll confirms that Maggie Cruz is not Beth Doe. Noll says that Maggie had been reported missing out of Framingham, Massachusetts, more than 40 years ago. Police there were able to find a missing person report which contained her social security number and with that, Noll said, he was able to track her down. Trooper Noll says he spoke with Maggie this morning. "She was relieved that it wasn't her," said Noll. "She is alive and well and is living in New Jersey."  Jane Foust had contacted Pennsylvania State Police in April of 2019 because she believed that Beth Doe could be her foster sister. She stated that the two ran away to Tarrytown, New York, in 1973, and that was the last time and place she saw her. Foust told investigators that she received a call from her foster sister in 1976 saying she was pregnant and needed money. She never heard from her again after that. Investigators followed the tip and reached out to the public for help in locating "Maggie" in order to confirm or rule her out as their "Beth Doe." Pennsylvania State Police have been trying to solve the "Beth Doe" case for decades but no family has ever come forward to identify the young woman. "The search for new leads in the Beth Doe case continues," said Noll. This new development eliminates "Maggie" as "Beth Doe" and also closes the missing persons report in Framingham, Massachusetts. Foust says she's relieved to learn that her foster sister is alive and well and would really like to connect with her. Anyone with information about "Beth Doe" should contact PA State Police or The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-The-Lost.
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 Little Jayden's mother, Rebecca Rivera, 34, is charged with tampering or fabricating physical evidence. Photo credit: Galveston City website |  Dania Sarai Amezquita Gomez, 31, charged with tampering or fabricating physical evidence. Photo credit: Galveston City website |
By: Claudia Rivero
Eight months after his tiny, naked body washed ashore on a Galveston beach, investigators now know "Little Jacob's" real name, where he came from, and who dumped him in the water.
Eight months after his tiny, naked body washed ashore on a Galveston beach, investigators now know "Little Jacob's" real name, where he came from, and who dumped him in the water.
Wednesday morning Galveston Police identified "Little Jacob" — the nickname they gave him when he was found last fall — as 4-year-old Jayden Alexander Lopez from Houston.
They also announced the arrest of Jayden's mother, Rebecca Rivera, 34, and her girlfriend, Dania Sarai Amezquita Gomez, 31, both are charged with tampering or fabricating physical evidence.
When I interviewed lead Detective Jeff Banks in May he made it clear that they were close to solving the case. He told me that releasing a crime scene photo of the child in January was a controversial decision but one that made all the difference in how the investigation played out.
Galveston Police say that tips from the public and DNA evidence led them to the child's mother. They're also convinced that both women went to Galveston to get rid of Jayden's body.
But, since it's still not known how Jayden died, Rivera and Gomez have not been charged with his death. However, additional charges are possible since the investigation is ongoing.
Below is the full news conference posted by Galveston City to its Youtube channel.
Rest in peace, sweet Jayden. You mattered, little guy. You absolutely mattered.
By: Claudia Rivero
Galveston, Texas, is a popular destination known for its beaches, its famous Seawall Boulevard, and the amusement park at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier.
Galveston, Texas, is a popular destination known for its beaches, its famous Seawall Boulevard, and the amusement park at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier.
But, just over a mile away, on a quiet side of the island, is a growing memorial full of stuffed animals, toys, and a wooden cross with the words "You mattered, little guy," dedicated to a young boy whose death remains a mystery.
The toddler, whom investigators call "Little Jacob," was found dead on Oct. 20, 2017, by a woman walking along the surf just east of Stewart Beach. Months later, they still don't know the boy's name, who he belongs to, or how he died.
Galveston resident Wanda Grunwell has been following the case from day one.
"That little boy needs to be identified," she said. "He deserves a proper burial because he had value."
Grunwell watched from her balcony as first responders pulled the toddler's body from the water.
"That little boy needs to be identified," she said. "He deserves a proper burial because he had value."
Grunwell watched from her balcony as first responders pulled the toddler's body from the water.
"I felt bad for the officers and for the woman who found him, it just broke my heart," she said.
Investigators believe "Little Jacob" was in the water 12-48 hours. Autopsy results released in January show he was underweight and had injuries consistent with long-term abuse and neglect.
According to the autopsy, "Little Jacob" did not have water in his lungs; therefore, he was likely dead when someone put him in the water. But the cause of death has not been determined.
Galveston Police Detective Jeff Banks is the lead investigator on the case.
"It’s taken a toll. It’s pretty much the only thing I've worked since Oct. 20. All day. Overtime. It’s a big case,” Banks said. "I can't imagine I'm ever gonna put it down until it's solved."
His hard work seems to be paying off. Detective Banks tells me they're following up on several promising leads and are still processing evidence, including DNA. It's a lengthy, complicated process but he remains optimistic about solving the case.
“Somebody knows him and we're gonna do right by him and find out who put him in the water,” he said.
THE INVESTIGATION
It's taken investigators months to get to this point. They started with a sketch of the toddler done by renowned forensic artist Lois Gibson, the FBI offered assistance including a $10,000 reward, and Clear Channel Outdoor featured the case on electronic billboards from Texas to Kentucky.
Galveston Police received hundreds of tips at the time, but none of them panned out.
"We got 500 names," Banks said.
"We got 500 names," Banks said.
Electronic billboard with Little Jacob's sketch in Kemah, Galveston County, Texas. Photo credit: Clear Channel Outdoor Americas.
As the tips started slowing down, Galveston Police and the FBI looked for ways to keep the case in the public eye. In January they took the rare and gut-wrenching step of releasing an actual photo of the dead toddler as a last-ditch effort to identify him.
"I didn't want to put that out there but there was no better way to show what he actually looks like," Detective Banks told me. "I assumed we’d have a little more push back but people were supportive of it.”
You can see the picture of "Little Jacob" in the video at the top of this page.
Tough as it was to release the photo, Detective Banks feels it was the right thing to do.
"The tips that are coming in are promising, and I'm optimistic that we're gonna be able to identify him," he said.
Some of those promising leads have come from the West Coast and Northeastern U.S., and from as far away as Europe as well as Central and South America, according to Banks.
"We're gonna solve it, I'm confident, we're gonna solve it," he said.
To the person or people that know what happened to "Little Jacob," Detective Banks says this:
"Come forward, talk to me, let's get it figured out."
"Come forward, talk to me, let's get it figured out."
Little Jacob was found unclothed. He's Hispanic, about 3 to 5 years old, and still has all of his baby teeth.
If you know who "Little Jacob" is and how to contact his family, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI or 1-800-225-5324.
The FBI is offering up to a $10,000 reward in this case.
The FBI is offering up to a $10,000 reward in this case.
May 25 is National Missing Children's Day. Please a take a moment to share the poster of a missing child from your area. It takes a few seconds to post to your social media and it can really make a difference. You never know, you might help bring a missing child home.
Source: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Missingkids.org
Claudia Rivero Reporter and Producer
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