Tree lighting planned for Dulce Alavez, N.J. child missing more than 2 years

Noema Alavez Perez, mother of Dulce Maria Alavez, with her daughter Estrella, 1, participate in a silent walk marking two years since Dulce disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

© Joe Warner | For/NJ Advance Media Noema Alavez Perez, mother of Dulce Maria Alavez, with her daughter Estrella, 1, participate in a silent walk marking two years since Dulce disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

The family of Dulce Maria Alavez is preparing to mark the third Christmas without the young girl, who vanished from Bridgeton City Park in 2019.

Candles are placed along the route of a Silent Walk held to mark two years since Dulce Maria Alavez disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

© Joe Warner | For/NJ Advance Media Candles are placed along the route of a Silent Walk held to mark two years since Dulce Maria Alavez disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

They will gather with supporters at the park on Dec. 18 for a tree lighting as efforts continue to find the child, who is now seven years old.

Noema Alavez Perez, mother of Dulce Maria Alavez lights a candle for her daughter before a silent walk marking two years since she disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

© Joe Warner | For/NJ Advance Media Noema Alavez Perez, mother of Dulce Maria Alavez lights a candle for her daughter before a silent walk marking two years since she disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

“The family is hoping for a Christmas miracle,” said Brenda Trinidad, one of the volunteers helping the family. “It’s been two long years since they celebrated any holiday with her.”

A Silent Walk is held to mark two years since Dulce Maria Alavez disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

© Joe Warner | For/NJ Advance Media A Silent Walk is held to mark two years since Dulce Maria Alavez disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

They’ll light up “Dulce’s tree,” a giant oak situated near the playground where she was last seen, and a smaller Christmas tree, Trinidad said.

The decoration theme will be the Disney movie “Frozen,” which is Dulce’s favorite.

Noema Alavez Perez speaks to the media on the second anniversary of her daughter Dulce Maria Alavez’s disappearance from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

© Joe Warner | For/NJ Advance Media Noema Alavez Perez speaks to the media on the second anniversary of her daughter Dulce Maria Alavez’s disappearance from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

“It’s to remind Dulce that her family is missing her and wishing she will return home for the holidays,” Trinidad said.

Dulce was 5 years old and had just started kindergarten when she was reported missing during a family outing to the park on Sept. 16, 2019. An FBI agent stated last year that he believed she was likely abducted by a stranger in a crime of opportunity, but local investigators say all options remain on the table as they continue pursuing leads in a case that has drawn international attention.

Noema Alavez Perez, mother of Dulce Maria Alavez, and her son Manuel, 5, participate in a silent walk marking two years since Dulce disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

© Joe Warner | For/NJ Advance Media Noema Alavez Perez, mother of Dulce Maria Alavez, and her son Manuel, 5, participate in a silent walk marking two years since Dulce disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

On the second anniversary of her disappearance, authorities released age-progression renderings of how Dulce may look today.

Investigators have repeatedly said they believe she is still alive, noting they have found no evidence of her death.

The family has been working on the Christmas event, which is open to the public, since last month with the help of other volunteers, Trinidad said.

Noema Alavez Perez, mother of Dulce Maria Alavez, with her daughter Estrella, 1, and her son Manuel, 5, participate in a silent walk marking two years since Dulce disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

© Joe Warner | For/NJ Advance Media Noema Alavez Perez, mother of Dulce Maria Alavez, with her daughter Estrella, 1, and her son Manuel, 5, participate in a silent walk marking two years since Dulce disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021.

Dulce’s mother and grandmother also paid for about 240 yard signs that have been placed around the region with a photo of the child and information about the as-yet unclaimed $75,000 reward offered in the case.

The family and local supporters gathered this past September for a “Silent Walk” to honor Dulce and keep her story alive.

The tree lighting event will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, at Bridgeton City Park. Face masks are required. Learn more by visiting the Justice for Dulce Maria Alavez Facebook group.

Trinidad hopes the community will continue paying attention to Dulce’s case and keep sharing her photo.

“Without the community’s help it’s not possible,” Trinidad said. “She deserves justice. She deserves to be found.”

Anyone with information about Dulce is asked to contact authorities via one of these options:

Bridgeton Police: 856-451-0033
Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office: 856-453-0486
New Jersey State Police: 609-882-2000, ext. 2554
FBI: 1-800-CALL-FBI. Select option 4, then option 8.
Anonymous tips may be sent to Bridgeton Police at bpdops.com/tips or to the prosecutor’s office at njccpo.org/tips.

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.

A Silent Walk is held to mark two years since Dulce Maria Alavez disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2021.

© Joe Warner | For/NJ Advance Media A Silent Walk is held to mark two years since Dulce Maria Alavez disappeared from Bridgeton City Park, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2021.

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