Melissa Alaniz
Missing since March 7, 1987 from El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

• Date Of Birth: March 17, 1974
• Age at Time of Disappearance: 12 years old
• Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'2"; 105 lbs.
• Distinguishing Characteristics: Hispanic female. Black hair, brown eyes.
• Clothing: Black t-shirt with "Iron Maiden" logo, black and white checked jeans, white socks with red and blue stripes on top and white tennis shoes.
• Dentals: Available
• DNA: Available

Circumstances of Disappearance
Alaniz was last seen on March 7, 1987 in El Paso, Texas. Her disappearance may be linked to the disappearances of several young women in the El Paso area the same year. Most women were then located murdered. Two other young women, Marjorie Knox, 14, who vanished on February 14, 1987, from nearby Chaparral, New Mexico, and Cheryl Vasquez-Dismukes are still missing and, like Melissa Alaniz, presumed dead by authorities. Police have identified a suspect in the case, an ex-convict with a history of violence against females who was paroled in January 1987 just a few days before the beginning of this string of murders and disappearances. He denied any involvement in the cases and was never charged. He matches the description of the man one victim was last seen with, was seen riding a motorcycle with another months before she died and witnesses have placed him at the convenient store Cheryl Vasquez was last seen at.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Texas Department of Public Safety
512-424-5074
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El Paso Police Department
915-832-4445

Agency Case Number: R8901009

Source Information:
Texas Department of Public Safety
CrimeZZZ.net
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children