The last cellphone ping for Emilio Acosta was detected not far from the American Dream Mall in New Jersey back on Dec. 18.
Since that night, family and friends have continued their search for the missing 20-year-old Weehawken man, who last left his home around midnight.
“Not knowing that your loved one is OK is excruciating and we are so grateful for friends and family who have tried to locate him,” the man’s father, Ildefonso Acosta, said earlier this month.
“My son is a very loving, caring person with the right support, he’s currently living with bipolar disorder and when he left the house he was not in his right state of mind.”
Acosta was wearing a cream-colored New York Yankees sweatshirt, grey sweatpants and black Timberlands. His family believes he had on a ski jacket. He is 6’1” and approximately 190 pounds. His dad does not think the 20-year-old was carrying any cash on him, but he did have his cellphone which police have said last pinged in the area near the American Dream Mall in Secaucus.
Shortly after he disappeared, police combed through the area surrounding the mall, even launching drones to scan the region from above.
The Acosta family flooded social media with photos of the missing man. They have also pleaded for others to seek mental health support if they find themselves struggling.
“If other people are dealing with family situations where they have mental health issues, there is help out there,” his dad said.
Anyone with information about Acosta is asked to contact Weehawken police at 201-863-7800.
