The family of a Bridgeton girl missing for 2 1/2 years gathered with supporters at Bridgeton City Park on Monday evening to celebrate the child’s 8th birthday.
Dulce Maria Alavez was 5 years old when she vanished during a family outing at the park on Sept. 16, 2019.
Her disappearance prompted an Amber Alert and a widespread search, along with a public awareness campaign and a $75,000 reward, but her whereabouts remain unknown.
Investigators say they are hopeful Dulce is still alive.
An FBI agent theorized that she was likely abducted from the park by a stranger in a crime of opportunity, but local authorities say all possibilities remain under consideration regarding her disappearance.
In the early days of the investigation, two possible suspect descriptions emerged of what authorities believe is the same person — a Hispanic man about 5 feet 8 inches tall and about 30 to 35 years old, with acne.
Organizers said the goal of the birthday gathering, near a large oak tree dedicated in the child’s honor, is both to celebrate Dulce and to keep her story in the public eye.
The evening included singing and a birthday cake for the missing girl. The theme was the Disney movie Moana, which is one of Dulce’s favorites, according to her mother.
In addition to spreading awareness, volunteers helping the family also want to ensure no other children are abducted from the park. At least two petitions were created since Dulce’s disappearance to get security cameras for the park and playground area.
Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly noted last week that multiple new cameras have actually been installed around the park to provide coverage of various locations, including the playground.
Visitors won’t necessarily see those cameras, Kelly said, because they are positioned at a distance, but — due to their high-definition capabilities — they can pick up plenty of detail.
He declined to say exactly where the cameras are positioned for security purposes and noted that cameras aren’t placed in obvious spots up close to play areas because perpetrators could simply avoid them.
“We have cameras throughout the whole park now,” Kelly said. “We don’t have them in conspicuous places because then the perpetrator would know where to hide.”
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.