DULCE MARIA ALAVEZ
Dulce Maria Alavez was just 5 years old when she vanished from Bridgeton City Park in Bridgeton, New Jersey, on September 16, 2019.
Earlier that afternoon, Dulce went with her mother, Noema Alavez Perez, her 3-year-old brother, and her mother’s 8-year-old sister to a local Sunoco convenience store to buy ice cream.
Surveillance footage shows Dulce choosing ice cream from the freezer, carrying her little brother to the counter, and balancing playfully on one foot as she waits for her mother at the register.
It’s a heartbreaking glimpse into the normal, joyful life of a 5-year-old girl just hours before she disappeared.
The family arrived at Bridgeton City Park around 4 p.m. Dulce and her little brother went to play on the playground while Noema, 19 years old and pregnant at the time, stayed in the car about 30 yards away, scratching lottery tickets as her younger sister worked on homework.
When her sister realized they could no longer see the children, the two went to the playground and found Dulce’s brother crying - but Dulce was gone. When asked where his sister was, he pointed toward a building near the playground.
Noema searched the area frantically, but there was no sign of her daughter. Around 5 p.m., she called the police to report Dulce missing.
Description at Time of Disappearance
Age: 5
Height: ~ 3’0”
Weight: 60-70 lbs
Hair: Long, brown
Clothing
- Yellow t-shirt with a koala on the front
- Black and white pants with flowers and butterflies
- White dress sandals with a small heel
Investigation and Reward
The FBI continues to investigate Dulce’s disappearance and is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to her recovery. Additional reward funds may be available.
Authorities ask the public for any information, photos, or videos that could provide clues. Anyone who was in Bridgeton City Park on September 16, 2019 is encouraged to upload photos and videos to the FBI site.
Pictured is an age-progressed image of what Dulce may look like today, released by NCMEC.
Even the smallest piece of information could help bring Dulce home.
How to Submit a Tip
Call: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
- Select option 4, then option 8
Photo/video upload: fbi.gov/alavez