The person at the center of this case
Carlos Enrique Mendoza Santos
Missing Person · Open
13 years waiting · since 2012
Missing Person: Carlos Enrique Mendoza Santos
Justice for Carlos Enrique Mendoza Santos — the trail went cold in 2012, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What circumstances led to the reporting party being extorted, and does this extortion provide leads about who may have been involved in the kidnapping?
📍
location
Lead #2Which specific Mexican border city was the last contact made from, and have authorities in Mexico been coordinated with on this investigation?
🚗
vehicle
Lead #3What vehicle was Mendoza Santos driving, and has it been located or tracked through Mexico?
Carlos Enrique Mendoza Santos, a 42-year-old man from Los Angeles, disappeared on October 28, 2012, while driving alone to El Salvador through Mexico. His last contact with family came from a Mexican border city near El Salvador, after which he was never heard from again. The reporting party was later extorted and believes Mendoza Santos was kidnapped while traveling through Mexico, making this case a potential international abduction.
Case
#3395
Los Angeles Police Department - Adult Missing Persons Unit
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Were there any communications or demands made during the extortion of the reporting party that could identify the perpetrators?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP153313. Missing person: Carlos Enrique Mendoza Santos.
Last known contact: 2012-10-28 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Circumstances: The MP was traveling alone by car to El Salvador.
The MP was driving through Mexico and last contacted his family from a Mexican City at the border near El Salvador and then the MP was never heard from again. The reporting party was later extorted and believes the MP was kidnapped while in Mexico.
Demographics: 42 years, Male, Hispanic / Latino. Physical description: 5 ft 6 in, 190 lbs, hair: Black, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Los Angeles Police Department- Adult Missing Persons Unit | 122019765 | 2012-11-09.
Timeline of Events
👁️
2012-10-28
Last Contact with Family
Carlos Enrique Mendoza Santos last contacted his family from a Mexican city at the border near El Salvador while traveling by car.
🕵️
2012-11-09
Case Reported to LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department - Adult Missing Persons Unit opened investigation case MP153313.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 28, 2012
Last Updated:July 31, 2026
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Phone: 8772755273
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Case Information
Incident:October 28, 2012
Last Updated:July 31, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8772755273
You can remain anonymous