Name: Paul David Sanders
Alias: Brewer, Hernandez, Sanders-Brewer
Age: 17 years old
Last seen: August 12, 2001
Location: Mesa, Arizona
Status: Still Missing
Case Information
17-year-old Paul David Sanders was last seen in Mesa, Arizona on August 12, 2001. He disappeared after leaving home following an argument with his father.
Background
Paul David Sanders was born on April 25, 1984. He was raised with his younger sister by a single mother in Missouri.
In the summer of 2000, Paul decided to move in with his father in Mesa, Arizona where he attended Globe High School. He played multiple sports, including football and basketball, with hopes to later attend college on an athletic scholarship.
During that time, Paul often called home and even asked for help to get back to Missouri at some point. He eventually decided to finish out the school year in Arizona, but was planning on returning home to Missouri for the holidays.
Disappearance
On August 11, 2001, Paul Sanders left his home on East Carol Circle in Mesa, Arizona after he got into an argument with his father. He drove away in his father’s vehicle, a Silver Chevrolet pickup truck.
On August 12, 2001, Paul was last seen by his grandmother when he visited her home in Globe, Arizona.
Paul Sanders never came back home and hasn’t been heard from since.
Investigation
On August 14, 2001, his father’s Silver Chevrolet pickup truck was pulled over for a minor traffic violation in Tucson, Arizona. However, the driver drove away before the responding officer could confirm his identity and a high-speed chase ensued.
On August 15, 2001, the vehicle was found abandoned and crashed on the side of a steep hill in a remote area in the Sierra Catalina Mountains, northeast of Tucson.
Paul left behind his wallet, driver’s license, and cellular phone under the car’s seat and the keys on the console.
Paul had cashed his last paycheck from work a day before his disappearance, but the cash was not found in his wallet.
Whereabouts
Police found no evidence for foul play in Paul Sanders’s disappearance. The circumstances of Paul’s disappearance remain unclear and his case is currently classified as missing. His case remains unsolved.
Appearance
Physical Description:
Hispanic/White male born on April 25, 1984. Paul has brown hair, hazel eyes, stands 5’8 tall, and weighs 145 – 150 pounds.
Distinctive Physical Features:
Paul has the name “Hernandez” tattooed in the center of his back.
Clothing and accessories:
Paul was last seen wearing a medium blue t-shirt with the word “Billabong”, dark jeans shorts, and white K-Swiss shoes.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Paul David Sanders please contact the Mesa Police Department at (480) 644-2211. Agency Case Number: 200112260560
Resources & Further Information
Paul David Sanders #MP12249 – National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
Paul Sanders – Mesa Police Department
Paul David Sanders-Brewer (Missing Person) – Facebook
News & Media Links
Missouri woman seeking answers in 2001 disappearance of her brother Paul Sanders-Brewer – NBC News 09/2021
Videos & Flyers
That poor child is dead, homicide or suicide.
Given that he is an active sportsman , are any of his tattoo ‘ s of any significance to any of his sporting hero ‘ s or sport person ? .
Did he enjoy going to sporting events , as much as he liked taking part , would he have joined a club ? . Was there any indication in the pick – up that someone else could have been with him at any time ? .
What was his relationship like between him , his mother & his sister ? .
Was his father married ? .
How did he manage to not be caught in a high – speed chase ? .
What was the argument about ? .
How long long did he stay with his grandmother ? .
Paternal / Maternal grandmother ? .
Up to his disappearance that he was staying with his father , was it a good relationship ?.
What made him go and live with his dad ? .
Sadly, we are leaning toward homicide.
What was his relationship like with his mother & sister , for him wanting to go and stay with his father , was his father married ? .
Up to the time of his disappearance did he have a good relationship with his father in order not to stay with him ? .
What made him go and stay with his dad , and then have an argument , then leave ? .
How long did he stay with his grand mother , Maternal or Paternal grandmother ? .
What was the argument about ? .
How was he able to get away from a high – speed chase ? .
Was there any indication that he was always on his own , or at some stage that somebody was with him ? .
Given that he is an active sportsman , are any of his tattoos of any significance , to his sporting hero ‘ s at the time , or any other well – known sporting person , as much as he was active , did he also like going to watch the sporting events , and join a particular club ? .
Wayne van der Schaaff, Sir, you have some excellent questions. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Karie, and I am one of the advocates for the Paul Sanders sister.
About tattoos. The only one that any of us are aware of is the one across his back (from shoulder blade to shoulder blade) that states “Hernandez.”
He enjoyed playing sports. However, I do not believe he was able to ever attend any college or pro games. As far as clubs go, just that he was on various sports teams at a few different schools in Missouri. We were never actually able to confirm he was even eligible to play sports in Arizona.
About his relationship with his mom and sister: Paul, his mother, and his sister did have a very close relationship. They all spoke frequently, after he came to Arizona. In fact, when he stopped calling mom and sister, that is when the actual first attempt at a “Check the wellbeing” and “Missing Persons” report happened. Sadly though, Mesa would not accept the report from mom, due to her living in Missouri.
As for the high-speed pursuit. We have all the available police reports from that day. The pursuit happened in the late-night hours of August 12th, beginning in Mammoth, AZ and coming to a stop just south of Oro Valley, AZ. From our understanding, and experience of Paul’s driving abilities, it is not believed he was driving the truck at the time of the pursuit. Also, to clarify. The vehicle never came to a stop. The officers ATTEMPTED to stop the vehicle but were unsuccessful in their attempt to do so. The pursuit ended because an AZDPS Trooper ran over stop sticks, ultimately disabling his vehicle.
As for what the argument was about, we can only get witness to state they saw the argument. We cannot get them to tell us what the argument was about.
Paul came to Globe, AZ from Missouri in the summer months of 2000. He stayed throughout the school year with his Paternal Grandmother. Just a few months before Paul disappeared, he went to stay with his biological father, stepmother, and stepsister. The reason he went to Arizona was to form a relationship with his father. While living in Missouri, he was unable to have that opportunity. Paul came to an age where getting to know his dad became super important to him. Against his mom’s better judgement, she ultimately allowed him to do so. As far as his relationship with his father, we have been advised that in the beginning, while he lived with his Grandmother, it was a typical “every weekend” relationship. After he moved in with dad, it became tumultuous.
As for Paul being known to be with anyone. All previous cases of Paul leaving the house was typically on his own.
As one of the family advocates for Paul Sanders, we thank you very much for covering Paul’s case. 22 years is way to long for a family to not know the answers… or even where he is at.
KarieW- Family Advocate