Left: Pereira, circa 1993; Right: Age-Progression to age 23 (circa 2010)

Jose Francisco Fuentes Pereira
Missing since December 7, 1993 from San Diego, San Diego County, California.
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

• Date Of Birth: October 10, 1986
• Age at Time of Disappearance: 7 years old
• Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 3'4; 60 lbs
• Distinguishing Characteristics: White/Hispanic male. Black hair; hazel/green eyes.
• Marks, Scars: He has a scar on his forehead
• Nickname: Paquito
• AKA: Jose Francisco Pereira Fuentes
• Dentals: Not available

Circumstances of Disappearance
Jose was last seen on December 7, 1993, and has not been heard from since. He was crossing the border with his siblings to join his mother in USA.

Jose, with his two teenage brothers, a sister and an aunt, had finally reached the United States border after a month-long journey of more than 2,000 miles from El Salvador. they made their way from El Salvador through Guatemala and into Mexico. Jose was separated from his family in the group's scramble to breach the fence and dash to the American side of a two-way road guarded by the U.S. Border Patrol. They were somewhere near San Ysidro in San Diego County but nobody, not even the authorities, knows exactly where. Paid smugglers, or "coyotes," who shepherded Jose's family to the United States, brought them to a "safe house" in California. A search team went back to look for Jose, but without success.

Jose did not know his birth date or last name. He may not have even known his given first name. He was from a small village and never went to school.

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

San Diego Police Department
619-424-0438

Agency Case Number: 97082079S

NCMEC #: NCMC861376

NCIC Number:
M-0740050511
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
CA DOJ
NamUs
CNN