Missing Since Nov. 25, 1991, Mom, Police Never Quit Search for Mark Himebaugh

DEL HAVEN – Twenty four years ago today, Mark Himebaugh, 11, went missing. His mother, Maureen Himebaugh, has not seen him since about 2:30 p.m. Nov. 25, 1991.
Countless hours of manpower have been expended in an effort to locate him to no avail.
Originally, massive search parties combed the marshes by the Himebaughs’ Del Haven residence. All that was found was one sneaker within 100 yards of home.
Trained dogs were used, later mystics were employed, the boy’s photograph was placed in a variety of media in hopes that someone would recognize him.
From the first telephone call that reported the red-haired, freckle-faced boy missing, Middle Township Police detectives have continued the search.
Most recently, in June of this year, they linked again with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office in a renewed effort to locate the adult Himebaugh.
Earlier this year, the case was reviewed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the FBI, Middle Township and county detectives. As a result of the cold case review this February, a process with strict protocols and involving over 30 attendees, was a set of new resources which Middle Township Police Chief Christopher Leusner hoped would help solve the mystery of the boy’s disappearance.
At a June 1 press conference announcing the new effort to break the case, Leusner recounted a timeline of events that occurred that day in 1991.
Himebaugh arrived home from school about 2:30 p.m. Shortly after, his mother returned home from a trip to the supermarket.
There was a large marsh fire burning near their home and the curious lad was captivated by it, climbing his father’s amateur radio tower to get a better look.
Maureen Himebaugh left home to take a friend to a Villas garage. Mark went to see the firefighters extinguish the marsh fire. He was seen twice at about 3:30 p.m. near Delaware Avenue and again at 3:45 p.m. entering Cape May County Park South with an unidentified girl, believed to be about 10 years old. The two appeared to be heading to the playground.
Mark’s mother returned at 4:15 p.m., having been delayed by traffic caused by the fire. Mark wasn’t home.
That last sighting, at 3:45 p.m. entering the gate of the park, provided the location for a mobile command center, which served as the focal point of the renewed investigation in June.
The cold case review gave reason to believe that a potential to solve the case existed with addition of the new resources.
Investigators and analysts re-interviewed individuals and conducted new interviews. The hope was that the location of the command post would make it more accessible to residents and others who may have seen something that day.
Anyone with information is asked to visit the command post or call its hot line at (800) 843-5678.
Many Prior Attempts
Over the years his image has been on milk cartons, it was also on the television series “America’s Most Wanted.” His cause was taken up by heavyweight boxer Riddick Bowe, who dedicated a bout to Mark’s return.
A police composite of a dark-haired man seen talking to Mark was circulated, and age-enhanced artist renderings of what Mark might look like now have been developed. Efforts have produced avenues of inquiry but no additional trace since that last sighting.
One thing remains clear, Middle Township Police have never given up on finding Himebaugh.
It is a case Leusner said, “We haven’t been able to get across the finish line.”
County Prosecutor Robert Taylor and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard Frankel both committed resources to the joint effort.
Neither has Maureen Himebaugh given up hope to find her son. Living in the same house with the same phone number, she wants to be sure Mark can find his way home. To this day she carries a troll doll she found that he was going to give her. Its impish face continued to smile over almost a quarter century, keeping alive the hope that mother and son will be reunited.
ED. NOTE: Vince Conti’s June press conference story was used in part for the above.