John Fernandez, Middletown Man, Remains Missing

Middletown, NJ - A 22-year-old Middletown man who first went missing Dec. 13 still has not been found, according to Deputy Chief Steve Dollinger of the Middletown Police.

The family of John Fernandez still continues to search for him and hold out hope the young man will be located, his sister, Kelly Fernandez, told Patch on Wednesday. She declined to say anything more about his disappearance.

Fernandez was last seen at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13 at his home on Kentucky Avenue. His cell phone was found on the side of Rt. 36 near the Gramercy Lakeside Manor at Natco Lake in Hazlet, which prompted a massive police search on Dec. 13, including a dive team even searching Natco Lake.

Police K9 dogs were used; Hazlet’s ATV units and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s department helicopter combed the wooded area around Natco Lake.

However, no sign of the young man was found. Fernandez studies accounting a Seton Hall University and, according to his Facebook page, was an active gamer.

He may have walked off along the Henry Hudson Trail, police said at the time of his disappearance.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Kelly Godley of the Middletown Police Department at (732) 615-2120.