Jose A. Mendoza Sr.

Case Information:

Jose Mendoza was 40 years old when he vanished while traveling back home to Casper, Wyoming, around May 12, 2019.

He had traveled to Scipio, Utah to visit his mother ahead of Mother’s Day, but he failed to return to his residence and has never been heard from since.

Case Details:

Following his visit in Utah, Mendoza departed for Wyoming accompanied by a female acquaintance in his burgundy Subaru Forester. His cellular phone was powered off shortly after leaving his mother’s residence, and his family grew immediately concerned when staff at his Casper halfway house reported he had failed to return.

Financial records subsequently revealed suspicious activity on his bank card, including transactions executed in Casper and Riverton as credit rather than his routine PIN-debit method. Five months later, in October 2019, his vehicle was located abandoned over 400 miles away on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Fremont County, mysteriously clean on the interior despite reportedly being stuck in snow.

Timeline of Events:

• May 2, 2019: Mendoza and a female companion arrive in Scipio, Utah, to visit his mother.
• May 5–12, 2019: Mendoza departs Utah to return to Casper, WY; his cell phone is turned off five minutes into the drive and never turned back on.
• May 5, 2019 (6:00 PM): A gas transaction is processed on his bank card in Casper as a credit purchase rather than his standard PIN-debit.
• May 6, 2019: Additional card transactions occur in Riverton, WY, while his family officially files missing person reports in Utah and Wyoming.
• October 2019: His burgundy Subaru Forester is found abandoned in a rural area of the Wind River Indian Reservation.

Investigation:

Detectives with the Casper Police Department launched an endangered missing person investigation, eventually coordinating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation due to the location of his recovered vehicle. Federal agents noted the vehicle appeared to have run off the road into snow, though family members questioned why the interior bore no mud or physical signs of occupant struggle.

Investigators have reviewed financial records, interviewed potential witnesses, and tracked regional leads across Wyoming and Utah. Despite ongoing efforts and public inquiries regarding transaction video surveillance and vehicle processing, law enforcement maintains that all viable tips remain under active evaluation.

Community Response:

Mendoza’s unresolved disappearance served as a primary catalyst for the founding of the advocacy organization Missing People of Wyoming. Community volunteers and state missing person groups continue to share his case across digital platforms to maintain public awareness.

Local media outlets and online cold case forums frequently highlight the unusual financial and vehicle clues surrounding his vanishing. Advocates regularly urge anyone with historical knowledge of his trip to contact law enforcement.

Family Statements:

His sister, Carmen Couch, has acted as the primary spokesperson and advocate for the family, conducting extensive independent research into his final known movements. She has publicly expressed strong concerns that foul play was involved, pointing to the break in his card-usage habits and the condition of his abandoned vehicle.

Family members emphasize that Mendoza was in daily communication with his mother, sister, and daughter, making his prolonged silence entirely out of character. They remain steadfast in their pursuit of answers, pleading for anyone with information to break their silence.

Physical Appearance:

Jose Alfredo Mendoza, Sr. is a Hispanic male who stood between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed between 180 and 220 pounds at the time of his disappearance. He has brown eyes and short black hair, though he frequently shaves his head bald.

Distinguishing physical identifiers include a large tattoo of a sun across his back, as well as multiple noticeable scars located on his arms, chest, and head. His clothing and exact personal items on the day he vanished remain unconfirmed.

Current Status:

Jose remains categorized as an endangered missing person, and his file is actively open with law enforcement. Authorities continue to treat his disappearance with high priority and request new leads from the public.

Detectives maintain that public assistance is vital to resolving the unanswered questions in his case. Anyone who interacted with Mendoza or his vehicle in May 2019 is strongly encouraged to reach out to investigators.

Contact Information:

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of Jose Alfredo Mendoza, Sr. is urged to call the Casper Police Department at (307) 235-8278. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Central Wyoming at (307) 577-8477.

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