MONDAY MARKS 5 YEARS SINCE YOUNG GIRL, DULCE MARIA ALAVEZ, DISAPPEARED FROM NEW JERSEY PARK

Monday marked the fifth anniversary of Dulce Maria Alavez's disappearance on Sept. 16, 2019. Dulce was 5 years old when she vanished from Bridgeton City Park, New Jersey, while playing with her brother. 

Family members, friends, community members and police met at what has been called Dulce's Tree at Bridgeton City Park to encourage anyone with information on the case to come forward. Many people dressed in yellow, which symbolizes the yellow shirt Dulce was wearing when she disappeared.

An Amber Alert was issued, identifying a Person of Interest—a 5'7" Hispanic man seen driving a red van near the park. Investigators have pursued every lead, but none have connected the van to the case. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released an age-progressed image of Dulce. Despite following 17 new tips in 2024 from various states, no progress has been made. The authorities remain determined to find her despite few new leads. Authorities urge the public to continue sharing information as the search continues. 

A $75,000 reward is still being offered in this case. Anyone with information may submit tips to www.ccpo.tips. Tips may be submitted anonymously.