Aged Photo Of Clearwater Boy Missing 24 Years Shared By Police

CLEARWATER, FL — Investigators have released an aged photo of a Clearwater boy missing for 24 years in hopes of generating new leads in the case.

In 2000, Zachary Bernhardt, then 8 years old, went missing from his Drew Street apartment in the middle of the night, the Clearwater Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

His mother went for a walk around 5 a.m. When she returned, her son was missing from his bed, Bay News 9 reported.

“Someone out there knows something or has information that could help solve this case, the agency wrote.

The case is Florida’s longest-running Amber Alert, according to WTSP.

His family remains hopeful that police might receive new information in the cold case after releasing the age progression photo of the boy.

"Just to keep his face out there. Their photograph is what brings them home," Zachary’s aunt, Billie-Jo Jimenez, told Bay News 9. "I want people to realize that, you know, in Walmart and when you go into the post office and these fliers are there, look at these kids, you know what I'm saying? His picture is what's going to bring him home."

Anyone with information that could help detectives is asked to call 727-562-4242.