Age-enhanced Image Depicts Himebaugh, Missing since Nov. 25, ’91 from Del Haven

DEL HAVEN – It’s a virtual image of a smiling 34-year-old man that his mother prays becomes real. The image of Mark Himebaugh, issued by Middle Township Police Department last week was produced in cooperation with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Red-haired, freckled, 11-year-old Himebaugh disappeared from his Del Haven home Nov. 25, 1991.
The case, listed as a non-family abduction, is one of the township’s and county’s most baffling mysteries. The search garnered nationwide interest after being broadcast in January 1992 on “America’s Most Wanted.” The case is listed in FBI files. Tips initially poured into Middle Township police, and each was investigated. As years passed, tips dwindled but Maureen Himebaugh’s faith and hope did not.
The last recollection she has of Mark was when he hugged her, and asked if he could go to see a meadow fire that was burning near their home. Knowing he was a curious boy, she consented, since it was just a short distance from home.
Then she had to go to a garage for a friend’s car. What normally would have taken five minutes, due to the fire, and rerouting of traffic, took about a half hour. When Mark was not immediately home, she did not panic, thinking he was at a friend’s nearby house.
After that, her life was never the same. An exhaustive search of the area was performed using trained canines, infrared sensing devices as well as human eyes and ears. All that was recovered was Himebaugh’s left sneaker about 75 yards from his home. According to police, no other trace of him was found.
When last seen, Himebaugh was wearing a blue sweatshirt, gray jacket, gray pants and sneakers.
Since Himebaugh’s disappearance, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has generated several age-progression photos. The case was on national television, on “America’s Most Wanted,” in January 1992. His image appeared on milk cartons, billboards and in mass mailings around the nation.
Most recently, the center generated an image July 28 which shows him aged progressed to 34 years of age.
During a Nov. 22, 2011 press conference, Maureen Himebaugh said, “I miss him so much. I’m doing this because I want to get out to the public, I’m begging, pleading that if you could come forward with any information. Go back in your memory.
Someone might have said something to you. You might have overheard something or saw something that day, or something recently someone said to you that will tell us what happened that cold, windy Monday.”
“I do still have hope. I hope and pray,” she added.
The only physical item Himebaugh has of her son is a small troll doll he wrapped, and planned to give her on her birthday. She found it in his room shortly after he went missing. It travels with her, a constant reminder of the son she so longs to hug and hold.
The Middle Township Police Department encourages anyone with any information in this case to contact it at 609-465-8700, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE LOST), Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135 or the local FBI Office.
Information can also be provided anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department Tip Line by visiting cmcsheriff.net and clicking anonymous tip.