Family Of Missing Nihar “Mars” Mehta, 22, Seeks Public Help After Recent Sightings

India-West News Desk

ORANGE, CA – The family of Nihar “Mars” Mehta is renewing their urgent plea for help following multiple credible sightings of the 22-year-old in Garden Grove and Westminster, California. Witnesses report seeing someone matching Nihar’s description near Brookhurst Street and Westminster Avenue, and members of the local homeless community know him by the name “Mars.”

Nihar was last seen on June 2, 2023, near 1440 N. Glassell St. in Orange, wearing a black NASA hoodie, black jeans, and black Converse shoes. He left on foot and has not been seen since.

His family, deeply concerned for his safety and mental well-being, has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his safe recovery. On the week of September 14, his father and uncle, both physicians, traveled from Chicago to assist in the search.

The Orange Police Department has identified a person of interest in the case: 43-year-old Hispanic male Manuel Chavez Zamudio, also known as Manny. He drives a 2004 Toyota Sienna (California plate 6ZPN744) and has a Metallica tattoo on his left forearm. Authorities say Nihar’s abandoned car was discovered on June 23, 2023, and surveillance footage shows a young man leaving it in a parking lot with the keys inside on June 12.

Investigators are also probing suspicious activity at a warehouse, the last confirmed location where Nihar was seen. Some of his belongings were reportedly moved under the direction of a man believed to be the landlord.

The final individual known to be with Nihar, who reported leaving him at a Covina Walmart on June 3, has since gone missing, and police are investigating that disappearance as part of the case.

Nihar is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 225 pounds. Anyone with information is urged to call the Orange Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 1-866-591-6950.