The disappearance of Joseph 'Joey' Lamartina has left his family and friends searching for answers since December of 2018. At the age of 32, the man from Marlboro, New Jersey, was reported missing on December 14, 2018. The circumstances surrounding his case begin in his home state but quickly shift to Niagara Falls, New York, a city he was familiar with from a previous job as a medical sales representative.
He was last definitively seen on December 15, 2018, when he checked into a DoubleTree Hotel in Niagara Falls; he checked out the following day. His family describes him as a proud, intelligent, and friendly individual, making his sudden disappearance all the more perplexing. Lamartina is described as a white male, standing at 5'11' and weighing around 160-170 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a distinctive tattoo of a Sicilian horn on his right shoulder.
The investigation into Joseph Lamartina's whereabouts began to take shape when his white 2012 Acura was discovered in the parking lot of the DoubleTree Hotel on February 8, 2019. Inside the vehicle, investigators found his belongings and a handwritten note that resembled a to-do list, with the final entry dated January 9 reading 'off the grid.' This discovery provided a perplexing clue, suggesting a possible intention to disappear. Prior to his car being found, there was a potential sighting of Lamartina on January 2, 2019. Two individuals reported that a man matching his description approached them near the Sheraton Niagara Falls hotel, which is about a ten-minute walk from the DoubleTree, asking for money to get back to New Jersey. This encounter offered a glimmer of hope and a potential lead, indicating he may have been in the area weeks after his hotel stay.
Despite the efforts of the Niagara Falls Police Department and the heartfelt pleas from his family, who created a Facebook page to raise awareness, no significant leads have emerged to solve the mystery of his disappearance. The note found in his car has led to various theories, with some speculating he may have chosen to start a new life and others fearing he may have encountered foul play or experienced a mental health crisis. The Niagara Falls Police Department has encouraged anyone with information to come forward as they continue their investigation. The case of Joseph Lamartina is a somber tale of a man who vanished, leaving behind only a few cryptic clues. His family continues to hope for answers and closure, holding onto the memory of a beloved son and friend.Last Seen: Dec 15, 2018
