Autistic Man Missing As Police Search North Jersey Lake

Updated At 1:30 p.m. Tuesday

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A Parsippany man has been reported missing, and authorities are searching Parsippany Lake in an effort to find him.

Jigar Prajapati, a 31-year-old autistic man, was last seen in his home on Califon Road around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, police say.

Police believe he left his residence on foot sometime between 3:30 and 6 a.m. Tuesday morning. He was last seen wearing blue pajama pants and a gray T-shirt. Prajapati is around 5’5” tall and weighs 160 pounds, police said.

He does not have his cellphone with him, authorities added.

As of 9:10 a.m., a New Jersey State Police helicopter joined the search, flying low over Lake Parsippany, officials said.

As of 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, authorities had no updates on the search.

"We are working with our law enforcement partners, along with other first responder organizations, to conduct an expansive local and interstate search for Mr. Prajapati," a Parsippany Police Department spokesperson said.

Police ask residents in the surrounding area to check their properties and review any available surveillance/CCTV footage for possible sightings of Prajapati.

Anyone with information regarding Prajapati's whereabouts is urged to contact the Parsippany Police Department at 973-263-4300, extension 0.