Seven months after two Oakland-area men vanished, investigators now believe they may have been killed as the result of a dispute connected to a car-theft operation in East Oakland.
Two Men, Still Missing
Justin Wayne Lee, 29, and Esmeraldo Vivero, 34, were last seen late last year and haven’t been heard from since. According to information obtained by KTVU, Oakland police suspect the men were killed amid conflict among individuals involved in vehicle theft and chop shop activity.
A Search Comes Up Empty
This week, Oakland police and the FBI carried out another search of a heavily fortified chop shop located at the corner of 100th Avenue and Pearmain Street, entering the building on the belief that human remains could have been buried inside. Despite an extensive search, no bodies were found, and both men remain officially classified as missing.
The location has drawn repeated law enforcement attention before. In January, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office raided the same site, seizing stolen license plates, protective vests, ammunition, and eight stolen vehicles, including a tanker truck and a BMW equipped with red and blue flashing police-style lights. Three suspects were charged with receiving stolen property following that raid, and the property was searched again in July.
A Dispute Over Stolen Vehicles
Investigators later learned that two of the suspects had allegedly recruited Lee and Vivero to steal vehicles. Witnesses told authorities a dispute arose after the missing men allegedly stole two vehicles belonging to the suspects themselves. During the investigation, one suspect reportedly suggested burying mannequins inside the warehouse to conceal real bodies deeper below ground, though that plan was reportedly never carried out. These remain unproven allegations at this stage.
UPDATE: I’ve learned @oaklandpoliceca @FBISanFrancisco search of notorious, previously raided chop shop linked to disappearance of 2 men whose families fear have been killed. Case linked to possible internal dispute involving car-theft ring. @Stolen911 weighs in. 4,5,6 p.m. @KTVU pic.twitter.com/cSYS6QptPF
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) December 19, 2025
Families Fear the Worst
Family members of both men say the prolonged silence is deeply troubling. Relatives described Lee as someone who stayed in regular contact, calling his disappearance completely out of character. Vivero’s family echoed those concerns, saying he would never go months without reaching out, which has left them fearing the worst.
A former California Highway Patrol investigator familiar with auto-theft cases said car theft can sometimes escalate into more serious crimes, particularly when suspects grow fearful of witnesses. That possibility has only deepened the pain for the families, who say no dispute justifies taking a life.
The investigation remains active as authorities continue searching for answers and for the two missing men.
All parties are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.