New Jersey
Family, community remembers young girl who vanished from NJ park 4 years ago
![Family, community remembers young girl who vanished from NJ park 4 years ago](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/13792021_091623-wpvi-dulce-missing-1030-video-vid.jpg?w=1600)
BRIDGETON, New Jersey (WPVI) — Another year has passed, and authorities in South Jersey are still searching for a missing girl who vanished from a park four years ago.
On Thursday, police released an age-progression photo of what Dulce Maria Alavez might look like today.
Age progression photo released on four-year anniversary of the disappearance of Dulce Maria Alavez in Bridgeton, New Jersey.
The young girl, then 5 years old, was last seen playing with her younger brother at Bridgeton City Park in Cumberland County on the afternoon of September 16, 2019.
She would be 9 years old this year.
“In the absence of evidence confirming Dulce’s demise investigators hold out hope that Dulce is still alive,” said Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae and Bridgeton Police Chief Michael Gaimari in a joint statement.
About one month after she disappeared, authorities released a sketch of a man who remains a person of interest.
READ MORE: Sketch released of possible witness in case of Dulce Maria Alavez
![](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/6403764_dulce-sketch.jpg)
In the years since the girl’s disappearance, hundreds of interviews have been conducted and investigators continue to follow up on every tip reported.
SEE ALSO: Mother of Dulce Maria Alavez expresses regret, defies critics one year after child vanished
“Every time when she sees me, she will give me a hug and tell me I’m her ohana, that’s what I miss about her,” said Noema Alavez Pérez, Dulce’s mother.
Dulce was last seen in Bridgeton City Park, and it’s where her family comes together to remember the girl every year. It’s also where they remind the public that the case is still ongoing.
“These past four years really hard for me and my family because we don’t know nothing about Dulce and it’s been way too long,” her mother said.
No arrests have been made in the case.
On the day of her disappearance, Dulce’s mother let the children run off to play on the swings at the playground.
Alavez Perez and her younger sister stayed inside her vehicle while the children played.
She would later find her younger son crying, and Dulce was nowhere to be seen.
The tightly-knit community is determined to find the missing puzzle piece to bring Dulce home.
“It’s really hard still have after four years,” said Monica Mason of Millville. “I still see her as the five-year-old baby. We’re still prayerfully praying she comes back home.”
The case has also recently attracted the attention of the Anti-Predator Project, who are working alongside authorities.
“We’ve got leads that take us to New York, down into Texas, and down into Mexico,” said Trent Steele with the Anti-Predator Project.
“In the two-ish months we’ve been involved, we’ve got a little over 160-70 leads now,” he added.
The belief that Dulce could be alive remains, and until the family has her back, they will keep gathering on this day to keep hope alive.
“We want Dulce back home. All we want is Dulce home,” said Dulce’s mother.
Authorities have released several age-progression photos since the 2019 disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office through this form at CCPO.TIPS.
![](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/11025212_091621-wpvi-dulce-maria-alavez-BOTH-progression-photos-split-img.jpg)
Age-progression photos released Thursday (left) and Wednesday (right) show what Dulce Maria Alavez could look like today.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
LATEST COVERAGE
Community marks 3 years since disappearance of Dulce Maria Alavez in Bridgeton, New Jersey
Mother of Dulce Maria Alavez expresses regret, defies critics one year after child vanished
TIMELINE: The search for 5-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez
Mother of missing NJ girl Dulce Marie Alavez tells Dr. Phil she suspects ‘old friend’ took her daughter
New Jersey girl missing nearly 6 weeks as search continues
‘I can’t find my daughter’: 911 call released in search for Dulce Maria Alavez
TIMELINE: The search for 5-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez
What are the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert?
Sketch released of possible witness in case of Dulce Maria Alavez
Community members continue search for missing Dulce Maria Alavez
Reward grows to $40K in search for Dulce Maria Alavez
AMBER ALERT: Forensic expert offers insight into search for missing NJ girl Dulce Alavez
WATCH: The family of Dulce Maria Alavez issued a plea
Family releases new video of missing Bridgeton girl Dulce Maria Alavez
N.J. teacher accused of making ‘offensive’ comments about missing Bridgeton girl Dulce Maria Alavez
AMBER ALERT: Officials remain hopeful missing NJ girl Dulce Alavez is alive
AMBER ALERT: Park photos, videos sought in search for missing New Jersey girl
‘You can’t imagine what we are going through’: Family of missing girl
AMBER ALERT NJ: Police looking into social media postings in search for missing New Jersey girl
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Amber Alert: Bridgeton, New Jersey girl still missing as search enters fourth day
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New Jersey
Forest fire burns 4,000 acres in N.J. but is now 65% contained, officials say
![Forest fire burns 4,000 acres in N.J. but is now 65% contained, officials say](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/wharton-state-forest-fire-2024-07-06.png)
Authorities say a fast-moving forest fire that has burned thousands of acres in southern New Jersey is now 65% contained.
The blaze in the Wharton State Forest was reported early Friday. Officials believe it began in the area of the Batona Campground in Tabernacle, which was evacuated as a precaution.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said Saturday that the blaze has now burned an estimated 4000 acres (1618.74 hectares), but they report having made “substantial progress” in containing the fire. Officials said crews were monitoring and improving containment lines and conducting burnout operations in pockets of unburnt fuel.
New Jersey
First-place Crushers win fifth in a row, 11-7, over New Jersey
![First-place Crushers win fifth in a row, 11-7, over New Jersey](https://www.morningjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Crushers_series_opener_with_Schaumburg_postponed_1-1.jpg?w=1024&h=481)
Jack Harris and Ron Washington each had three hits and two RBI as the first-place Crushers won their fifth game in a row, 11-7, at New Jersey on July 6.
Vincent Byrd Jr. added a two-run home run and Logan Thomason drove in three runs. John Tuccillo and Burle Dixon each drove in a run, and Dixon scored two runs. Jarrod Watkins had a hit, walked three times and scored three runs.
The series concludes July7 at New Jersey.
New Jersey
Here’s why Brigantine, New Jersey, is different from other Jersey Shore towns
![Here’s why Brigantine, New Jersey, is different from other Jersey Shore towns](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/07/06/79563f9f-94bc-49b3-bf9a-4fc6609f8b5c/thumbnail/1200x630/168db69a208e840916251543820d580c/3aa767155e0f2e892b474d2ef56dcac6.jpg?v=57e8061b2038d609da26e467de5ddfb8)
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