Missing New Jersey Girl: Police Hope Cellphones May Help Find Dulce Alavez

As the search for abducted 5-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez continues into its second week, police are calling on Bridgeton, New Jersey, residents to check their cellphones for potential leads in the case. The hope is that individuals that were at Bridgeton City Park at the same time as Alavez may have photos, videos, or other digital information that will provide clues in the ongoing search.

“We are asking anyone who may have been at the Bridgeton City Park Recreational Area on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, between the hours of 3–6 p.m. to check their cellphones to see if they took photos and/or videos while they were in the area,” Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said.

“Their media may contain information which seems innocuous to them but is a valuable piece of the puzzle in helping us bring Dulce home to her family.”

Alavez disappeared while playing on the swings at City Park with 3-year-old brother on Sept. 19. An Amber Alert was issued roughly 24 hours after her disappearance. She is believed to have been abducted by a Hispanic man with no facial hair, acne, and a thin build and roughly 5-foot-7. The man reportedly drove off with Alavez in a red van with sliding doors.

Police are urging individuals from nearby immigrant communities to come forward if they have information, stating that their immigration will not be checked if they do so. The reward for Alavez’s recovery was also recently increased to $35,000, according to NJ.com.

Anyone with information pertaining to Alavez’s case is asked to call the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000, ext. 2554, or the Bridgeton police department at (856)451-0033. Tips can be submitted by calling (800) CALL-FBI, selecting option 4, and then selecting option 8.