Six years after five-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez vanished from a playground in Bridgeton, New Jersey, investigators are turning to artificial intelligence to help breathe new life into one of the state’s most haunting cold cases. Officials announced the use of AI technology on September 16, 2025, the anniversary of Dulce’s disappearance, as law enforcement continues to search for answers in a mystery that has gripped both Cumberland County and the nation.
The case dates back to September 16, 2019, when Dulce disappeared while playing on the swings at Bridgeton City Park with her younger brother. Her mother, Noema Alavez Perez, was sitting nearby when Dulce’s brother returned to the family car without her. After a frantic search of the park, Perez called 911, sparking a massive investigation.
Authorities quickly developed the theory that Dulce was abducted in what they described as a possible “crime of opportunity.” A sketch was later released of a person of interest—a light-skinned Hispanic male wearing orange sneakers and a black shirt, who may have been seen leaving the area in a red van with tinted windows. Despite widespread attention, media coverage, and community involvement, the individual has never been identified.
The lack of closure has kept the case active for six years. Investigators continue to revisit every lead, comb through thousands of pieces of evidence, and appeal to the public for help. With traditional avenues exhausted, law enforcement is now turning to artificial intelligence in hopes that advanced technology might reveal connections or patterns missed by human investigators.
The New Jersey State Police Special Investigations Section is running the case files through AI systems designed to analyze massive amounts of data, including tips, witness statements, and digital evidence collected since 2019. Officials believe this new approach could highlight overlooked leads or generate fresh investigative paths. The technology will complement the work of detectives who have already been assigned to re-examine the case from the ground up over the past year.
In addition to AI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) continues to assist in the search by producing age-progression images to show what Dulce might look like today. The latest image, released in 2023, was widely distributed in hopes of sparking recognition. Meanwhile, investigators have chased down more than a dozen new tips in the past year, though none have yet provided the breakthrough they need.
Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae has emphasized that every lead matters, no matter how small. “Every piece has to be tracked down,” she explained, underscoring her belief that a single missing clue could unlock the case.
The community has not forgotten Dulce, and a $75,000 reward remains available for information that leads to her recovery. Vigils are still held in her honor, and her name continues to resonate across New Jersey. For residents of Bridgeton and beyond, the case remains a painful reminder of the fragility of safety, but also of the determination of law enforcement and the community to bring a child home.
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Dulce Maria Alavez is urged to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office through ccpo.tips or by contacting the New Jersey State Police Special Investigative Section. Even the smallest piece of information could prove critical as investigators now combine human determination with cutting-edge technology to continue the search.
Stay updated on this case and other law and order developments across the Garden State at Explore New Jersey Law & Order.
