Dulce Alavez

What happened

Dulce Maria Alavez, 5, was last seen on the afternoon of Monday, September 16, 2019, while playing on the swings at Bridgeton City Park, behind Bridgeton High School in Bridgeton, New Jersey, with her 3-year-old brother. Their mother was in her car about 30 yards away. Her brother returned alone, and Dulce was gone. She was last seen wearing a yellow shirt with a koala on the front, black and white pants with butterflies and flowers, and white dress sandals.

Investigators said a man may have led her toward a red van. That man has never been identified, and no trace of Dulce was found in searches of the park and the surrounding area. An AMBER Alert was issued the next day, on September 17, 2019.

No arrest has ever been made and no suspect has ever been publicly named. The investigation remains active, and in September 2026 the FBI renewed its appeal on the seventh anniversary of her disappearance. Dulce would be 12 years old today. The FBI offers a reward of up to $5,000, and combined rewards of up to $80,000 stand for information that leads to her whereabouts.