Barnett 'Barry' Zeldin, a 74-year-old avid hunter from Mays Landing, New Jersey, disappeared on October 7, 2013, after heading into the Wharton State Forest. He told his wife he was going to set up bait for a tree stand in preparation for the upcoming deer hunting season. Zeldin signed in at the Audubon Gun Club at 9:55 a.m. that morning, a standard procedure for hunters in the area. His wife of 50 years, Janet, was not initially worried when he did not return that evening, as he was known for being independent and sometimes extending his hunting trips. However, after several days passed with no contact, concern grew, and his family began their attempts to locate him.
The search for Barnett Zeldin began when family members and fellow gun club members went looking for him. They discovered his 1992 Chevy Blazer parked on the side of a road within the Warren Grove Recreation Area.
The scene was perplexing; the vehicle's windows were down, the keys were in the ignition, and his wallet and cell phone were inside. Most alarmingly, his small dog, Taffy, was found alive inside the vehicle, having survived by eating corn and molasses intended as deer bait and drinking rainwater. His daughter-in-law later expressed that he loved his dog dearly and would never have left her behind unless he intended to return shortly.
Following the discovery of his vehicle, New Jersey State Police initiated an extensive search of the vast and rugged wilderness of the Pine Barrens. The operation involved ground crews, K-9 units, and helicopters, but after a thorough 2.5-day search, no trace of Zeldin was found. The official search was called off, though volunteers and his family, who traveled from out of state, continued to look for him. Zeldin was described as being 5'7' and weighing between 150 and 155 pounds, with brown and graying hair and brown eyes. He was believed to be wearing jeans, a t-shirt, a flannel shirt, and possibly hunting boots. He also wore a gold wedding band and a gold chain with two charms. The case remains an active missing persons investigation, a perplexing disappearance that has left a family without answers and a community with a lingering mystery.Last Seen: Oct 7, 2013
