10 Years Later, Billboard Erected For Missing Garwood Man

GARWOOD, NJ — This Saturday marks 10 years since Garwood native Aaron Watkins went missing. Friends and family who still miss him and continue to search for him are coming together to reveal a Missing Persons billboard featuring Watkins along Route 22.

The CUE Center for Missing Persons in conjunction with Lamar Outdoor, who donated the billboard, will unveil it on Saturday at 245 Route 22 in Hillside to mark the anniversary. The sign will be at the old Aquarium store, next to a Conoco gas station.

Watkins, who was 18 at the time, was last seen on Nov. 11, 2007 in Plainfield. His roommate reported Watkins left the home in the roommate's vehicle to go to an acquaintance's home.

The vehicle was later found parked and abandoned in the southbound lanes of the Driscoll Bridge. Divers searched the waters an hour afterward, but there was no sign of Watkins.

There has been no activity on his social security account.

“The not knowing is the hardest part,” says CUE representative Lisa Valentino who has endured a missing loved one in her life. “The family deserves answers; Aaron’s friends deserve answers as well as the Plainfield community.”

“Aaron deserves to be brought home and we are hoping this billboard will spark new interest and new leads that do just that,” said Valentino.

Watkins is described as a white man, 5'6," 140 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes, pierced ears and tongue and a mole located under his right eye.

Watkins was last seen wearing a green baseball cap, black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black shoes.

Anyone with information regarding Watkin's disappearance should contact Police Officer Stephen Bailey, the lead investigator on Watkin's case at the Plainfield Police Deptartment 908-753-3041. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to CUE Center at 910-232-1687.

(Images via Brittney Soban)

Image 1 - Aaron Watkins

Image 2 - Location of the billboard

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