This individual was recently confirmed to have been identified. Some details may change as more information is released publicly.
Humberto Luna was a young man recovered from the Bronx River within the vicinity of Starlight Park on March 1, 2024.
His case was solved by late August of that year with the help of social media and information released by investigative agencies.
Case
Disappearance
Luna, described as introverted by peers, was said to have occasionally gone long periods of time without communicating with others. Loved ones were not initially alarmed by his most recent absence, as he typically would make contact again on his own terms. It remains unclear what circumstances led to his final disappearance.
In February 2024, a young man allegedly attempted to enter a New York woman's residence and fled upon her confronting him. The incident was recorded on a Ring home security camera and later uploaded to social media.
Discovery and identification
The young man's body was discovered and subsequently pulled from the Bronx River on March 1, 2024. Death had occurred shortly before; the exact cause and manner have not been released. Images of his clothing and a morgue photograph were uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, along with additional case details. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children would later become involved, as the decedent was estimated to be 15-25 years old, releasing a facial approximation based on postmortem images.
Upon viewing a post surrounding the body found in the Bronx River, the Ring user noticed a resemblance between the John Doe and the individual at her door, along with strong similarities in their clothing. After appealing publicly on social media platforms, such as TikTok, for information about the then-unknown male, she forwarded potential tips to the police, who later confirmed his identity publicly on August 27.
Characteristics
- Long, curly black hair.
- Facial hair worn in a light goatee.
- Brown eyes.
- Features suggesting possible Hispanic, Black, or mixed heritage
Clothing and accessories
- Red Nike zip-up hoodie, size M.
- White T-shirt with "Paramount" movie logo, size S.
- Black pants with white stripes down the sides.
- Columbia brand blue boxer briefs, size M.
- Black Nike Air Jordans shoes with hot pink details, size 11.
Gallery
Sources
- News 12 New York
- Article #1 (8/22/24)
- Article #3 (8/23/24)
- Article #3 (8/27/24)
- NCMEC (archived)