Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP41512) and 5 other sources
On a summer day in Phoenix, Arizona, 16-year-old Erli Dias-Lopez vanished under troubling circumstances. The date was June 16, 2016, when the young male, of Hispanic and White/Caucasian descent, was last seen. At the time of his disappearance, Erli was described as being between 5'2' and 5'4' tall and weighing between 115 and 125 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. His case is classified as an endangered runaway.

The events leading up to Erli's disappearance are unique and concerning. He had been detained while attempting to enter the United States and was subsequently placed in a facility in Phoenix. It was from this facility that he fled custody, disappearing into the sprawling urban landscape of Phoenix. The circumstances surrounding his detention and his subsequent escape from the facility remain limited in publicly available information, adding a layer of complexity and urgency to his case. It was reported that he mentioned having family in Utah, which provided a potential, albeit broad, direction for where he might have been headed.

Years have passed since Erli Dias-Lopez was last seen, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The Phoenix Police Department is the investigating agency in his case, and they encourage anyone with information to come forward. The case of Erli Dias-Lopez is a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young people, particularly those in precarious situations. His disappearance is a story of a teenager who slipped through the cracks of a system and vanished, leaving behind unanswered questions and a family that may still be searching for him. The overview of the case highlights a young man who, after being detained, fled from a facility and has not been heard from since, with a possible but unconfirmed destination of Utah.

Last Seen: Jun 16, 2016

Possible Unidentified Matches (8)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

79%Possible
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona - unidentified case UP81707
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona
UP81707 • Found May 11, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–18 vs 16 when missing
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 89%51 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 100%120–140 lb vs 115–125 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP75357
John Doe — Arizona
UP75357 • Found Jul 24, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–22 vs 16 when missing
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 83%70 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 100%120–135 lb vs 115–125 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona - unidentified case UP16527
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona
UP16527 • Found Mar 29, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 86%Est. 18–25 vs 16
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Weight 0%19 lb vs 115–125 lb
76%Possible
John Doe — Eloy, Arizona
UP78739 • Found Mar 2, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 21–44 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'2"–5'4"
76%Possible
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona - unidentified case UP67431
John Doe — South Mountain, Arizona
UP67431 • Found Mar 8, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%4'10"–5'2" vs 5'2"–5'4"
75%Possible
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona - unidentified case UP91556
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona
UP91556 • Found Apr 28, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 12–20 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%51 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7"–5'10" vs 5'2"–5'4"
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
75%Possible
John Doe — Eloy, Arizona
UP97199 • Found Jan 16, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 83%Est. 23–34 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'9" vs 5'2"–5'4"
75%Possible
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona - unidentified case UP17547
John Doe — Gila Bend, Arizona
UP17547 • Found Jan 25, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 72%Est. 20–40 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%51 mi away, same county
TimingFound 19 months after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'2"–5'4"

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.