On the way to Bridgerton City Park in southern New Jersey, Noema Alavez Perez takes her children, Dulce Maria Alavez, 5, and her 3-year-old brother to get ice cream.

Once at the park, the children play on the swings as Noema is in her car about 30 yards away helping her sister with homework on the phone. Seeing her son crying by the swings, Perez walks toward him to find out what is going on and finds someone has thrown his ice cream on the ground, noticing Dulce is not on the swings with her brother.

No longer concerned about her sons’ ice cream, Noema Perez begins scanning the park for Dulce.

Noema Alavez Perez was about 30 yards away from her children playing on swings in the park, and when she couldn’t find Dulce for a few minutes, she thought her daughter was hiding, trying to be funny. Dulce has never run off before, but Perez doesn’t see her anywhere in the park.

Asking everyone standing near the basketball court if they have seen Dulce Maria Alavez, she hears several stories of the 5-year-old running behind houses with two different men and another child.  Living every parent’s biggest nightmare, Perez calls 911 to report her daughter missing in the park.

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Additional Guests

• Noema Alavez – Mother of Dulce Alavez
• Brenda Trinadad – Family friend and advocate for Dulce Alavez
• Dr. Chloe Carmichael – Clinical Psychologist, Women’s Health Magazine Advisory Board;’ Author: ‘Nervous Energy: Harness The Power of Your Anxiety;’ X: @DrChloe

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” is also a national radio show heard on SiriusXM channel 111 airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.

[Feature Photo: Dulce Alavez/Handout]