Search Still On for Missing Ocean City Man

Four years ago today, an Ocean City mother arrived home from work to find that her 21-year-old son was not home, though she thought he would be.

John T. Weisbecker’s car was still parked behind the house on the 200 block of Asbury Avenue, so his mother, Jennifer Powell, figured he couldn’t have gone far. But he didn’t return home that night. And he hasn’t been seen in the four years since.

On the fourth anniversary of Weisbecker’s disappearance, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI, the Ocean City Police Department and State Police are appealing to the public for information that might lead to an explanation of what happened to Weisbecker. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for “information that leads to the recovery of John T. Weisbecker.”

A postal worker was the last person to see Weisbecker — at 10:30 a.m. on March 11, 2009. Evidence in the home showed possible signs of a struggle, according to Ocean City Police Capt. Steven Ang. The signs were nothing immediately obvious, Ang said. But the family noticed furniture uncharacteristically astray, among other clues.

Weisbecker was likely gone by the time his younger sister returned home from school on the afternoon of March 11, Ang said.

Weisbecker's credit cards have never been used, nor has any money been withdrawn from his bank accounts, he said. Weisbecker was scheduled to begin working at Kessel’s Korner sandwich shop the day after his disappearance.

In two years of investigating, authorities have found few strong leads. Experts looked at the hard drive on Weisbecker's computer, according to Ang, and found no strange contacts or anything out of the ordinary. He said investigators have no reason to believe Weisbecker was involved with drugs in any major way.

According to a release from the FBI, investigators have reason to believe:

• It is likely that more than one person was involved in Weisbecker's disappearance.
• More than one person likely has information that could facilitate his recovery.
• Weisbecker was likely familiar with the people who caused his disappearance.
• The people involved in Weisbecker's disappearance are likely familiar with the Cape May County area.
• There have been several people who have been hesitant to fully cooperate with the investigation.

Weisbecker, a 2006 Ocean City High School graduate, is described as 6 feet, 2 inches tall with blue eyes and several tattoos on his torso and arms. He would be 25 years old today.

Anybody with information is asked to call any of the following numbers:

• Cape May County Major Crimes Unit           (609) 465-1135
• Ocean City Police Department                     (609) 399-9111
• Crime Stoppers Cape May County               (609) 465-2800
• FBI Newark Division                                     (973) 792-3000