MD MD - Santiago Jaime Benitez, 24, Bethesda, 6 Oct 2001

[Gardener1850]

Missing Person / NamUs #MP61652
Santiago Jaime Benitez

Male, Hispanic / Latino
Height 6' 9" (81 Inches)
Weight 190 lbs

Brown Hair
Brown Eyes

Tattoo
Tattoos on back and chest

"Benitez” tattoo across chest and back.


Three dragons on left leg

Circumstances
Date of Last Contact October 6, 2001
NamUs Case Created November 18, 2019
Last Known Location Map
Location Bethesda, Maryland 20817
Montgomery County

Circumstances of Disappearance
Santiago Benitez disappeared on 10/06/01. Benitez's vehicle was found on 06/04/2002 and there was an attempt to set this vehicle on fire.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Murkywaters]

Santiago Hamiez Benitez – The Charley Project

• Missing Since 10/06/2001
• Missing From Potomac, Maryland
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Male
• Race Hispanic
• Age 25 years old
• Height and Weight 6'1 - 6'9, 190 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics Hispanic male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Benitez's has tattoos of his last name, Benitez, across his back and chest, and a tattoo of three dragons on his left leg. He has a scar under his left eye. Some agencies spell his middle name "Jaime."

Details of Disappearance
Benitez resided in the 8100 block of Inverness Ridge Drive in Potomac, Maryland. He spoke to his family members on October 6, 2001 and said that he was planning to visit a friend in New York. Benitez has never been heard from again. He never arrived at his friend's house as expected.

His family says it is uncharacteristic of Benitez to leave without warning. He was driving his silver 1999 Mercedes CLK340 with the Maryland license plate number JWN-591 at the time of his disappearance.

Benitez was reported as a missing person on February 5, 2002. His vehicle was discovered abandoned near Route 108 and Tucker Lane at approximately 9:45 a.m. on June 4, 2002. The car was parked near the Montgomery County/Howard County, Maryland line.

Investigators located evidence of a small fire at the scene and accelerant had been poured over the vehicle. There was no indication of foul play, however, and bloodhounds were not able to trace any scent away from the vehicle. There was no sign of Benitez at the scene where the car was found.

Authorities said that they have not uncovered evidence of foul play in Benitez's case, but ruled his disappearance is suspicious.

 

[JSolt1210]

Santiago Hamiez Benitez – The Charley Project

• Missing Since 10/06/2001
• Missing From Potomac, Maryland
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Male
• Race Hispanic
• Age 25 years old
• Height and Weight 6'1 - 6'9, 190 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics Hispanic male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Benitez's has tattoos of his last name, Benitez, across his back and chest, and a tattoo of three dragons on his left leg. He has a scar under his left eye. Some agencies spell his middle name "Jaime."

Details of Disappearance
Benitez resided in the 8100 block of Inverness Ridge Drive in Potomac, Maryland. He spoke to his family members on October 6, 2001 and said that he was planning to visit a friend in New York. Benitez has never been heard from again. He never arrived at his friend's house as expected.

His family says it is uncharacteristic of Benitez to leave without warning. He was driving his silver 1999 Mercedes CLK340 with the Maryland license plate number JWN-591 at the time of his disappearance.

Benitez was reported as a missing person on February 5, 2002. His vehicle was discovered abandoned near Route 108 and Tucker Lane at approximately 9:45 a.m. on June 4, 2002. The car was parked near the Montgomery County/Howard County, Maryland line.

Investigators located evidence of a small fire at the scene and accelerant had been poured over the vehicle. There was no indication of foul play, however, and bloodhounds were not able to trace any scent away from the vehicle. There was no sign of Benitez at the scene where the car was found.

Authorities said that they have not uncovered evidence of foul play in Benitez's case, but ruled his disappearance is suspicious.

BBM.

Three things I find odd about this case:

1) He was last heard from on Oct 6, 2001, but was reported missing on Feb 5, 2002—four months later, almost to the day! Did the friend not worry when Santiago never showed up? Was the visit a surprise the friend wouldn't have been expecting? What about other friends? Family? His job? Neighbors?

2) He was reported missing on Feb 5, 2002, and his car was discovered on Jun 4, 2002—again, four months later, almost to the day. No one reported an abandoned car for almost eight months? Even without a missing persons report from Oct 2001–Feb 2002, police could've still traced it to Santiago and learned he was missing.

3) And, as if that's not bad enough, his car was found just 35 minutes away from his residence, suggesting he never even got out of Maryland. That location is between the two most direct routes to NYC, according to Google Maps, so why did he go this way—if it was him at all that did?

 

[ellillbedamd]

Missing Person / NamUs #MP61652
Santiago Jaime Benitez

Male, Hispanic / Latino
Height 6' 9" (81 Inches)
Weight 190 lbs

Brown Hair
Brown Eyes

Tattoo
Tattoos on back and chest

"Benitez” tattoo across chest and back.


Three dragons on left leg

Circumstances
Date of Last Contact October 6, 2001
NamUs Case Created November 18, 2019
Last Known Location Map
Location Bethesda, Maryland 20817
Montgomery County

Circumstances of Disappearance
Santiago Benitez disappeared on 10/06/01. Benitez's vehicle was found on 06/04/2002 and there was an attempt to set this vehicle on fire.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

He looks like Saguache unidentified man. Both are unusually tall and the facial reconstruction strongly suggests he could be the Saguache Colorado unidentified found in 2002.

 

[WingsOverTX]

He looks like Saguache unidentified man. Both are unusually tall and the facial reconstruction strongly suggests he could be the Saguache Colorado unidentified found in 2002.

Possibly but age estimate for Saguache UID is much older, weight estimate is much heavier, Saguache UID was not tattooed, & this Bethesda man likely has teeth (a very important difference).

If you want to report potential match, here is the contact given on DOE Network:
Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Montgomery County Police Department
Agency Contact Person: Major Crimes Division - Cold Case Squad
Agency Phone Number: 240-773-5086
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: N/A

4799DMMD - Santiago Hamiez Benitez

 

[ellillbedamd]

yes however consideration should be given to these key elements

Decomposition

attempt to conceal by removing teeth.
estimates are merely best guess prima facie.
and decomposition after a year you cant always see tattoos anymore. odds of 2 six foot 5 men missing in 40 mile radius?

also.. I am not guessing. two shots to head 9mm ruger. close range. he made it to new york. and on to his resting place. the remote pass in colorado between saguache and gunnison. and the car was returned to area at a later date.

 

[ellillbedamd]

all facts. warwick knows who put him here. he just needed the identity to connect the dots. they know. balls in their court. im a skip tracer . and i found zeven... took it to warwick personally and they connected the dots. and now santiago. come on saguache you got this. connect the dots

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Santiago Hamiez Benitez – The Charley Project

 

[Pennysmom1]

Santiago Hamiez Benitez – The Charley Project

• 
  
  

Benitez, circa 2001

He was driving his silver 1999 Mercedes CLK340 with Maryland license plates JWN 591 at the time of his disappearance. He was reported as a missing person on February 5, 2002. His vehicle was discovered abandoned near Route 108 and Tucker Lane at approximately 9:45 a.m. on Ju4, 2002. The car was parked near the Montgomery County - Howard County, Maryland line.

June 12: Big Week in Potomac

June 12: Big Week in Potomac

www.connectionnewspapers.com

The vehicle of a Potomac man who has been missing since October was located by police the morning of Tuesday, June 4.

After receiving a call for a suspicious situation near the Howard County border, police discovered an abandoned vehicle — a silver 1999 Mercedes CLK340 — with its engine running. Police also found evidence of a small fire near the vehicle and an ignitable liquid on the car.

A registration check determined that the car is registered to Santiago Hamiez Benitez, who last made contact with family members on October 6, 2001 when he was making plans to visit a friend in New York. Benitez did not show up in New York and has not made any contact with friends or family since then.

Benitez, 25, of the 8100 block of Inverness Ridge Drive in Potomac, is a white male of Hispanic descent, 6-foot-one and 190 pounds. He has short brown hair, brown eyes and has his name "Santiago Benitez" tattooed on his chest and back and a tattoo of three dragons on his left leg.

Police officers, along with bloodhounds and canine dogs, searched the area with negative results. Even though police say the situation is suspicious, they have found no evidence of foul play. The car is currently in police custody.