In December of 2008, a 21-year-old man named Ervis Mecollari vanished from his residence in Waterbury, Connecticut. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a white male, standing at approximately 6'1' and weighing around 190 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. His last confirmed sighting was on December 20, 2008. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are intertwined with a tragic and violent event that unfolded in his apartment building on the same day.
Mecollari lived as a downstairs neighbor to 85-year-old Laura Orso. On the day he went missing, Orso was found brutally murdered in her apartment, having been stabbed 37 times. Investigations into the homicide quickly identified Mecollari as a person of interest. It was discovered that he had allegedly been harassing his elderly neighbor, causing her enough fear to consider moving. In the immediate aftermath of the murder, Mecollari's actions raised further suspicion. He purchased a bus ticket with a final destination of Florida, but he never arrived. Instead, he disembarked in New York City and has not been seen since.
The investigation into Orso's death and Mecollari's disappearance has been extensive. Authorities were able to connect him to the crime scene through DNA evidence obtained from a toothbrush in his home. The search for Mecollari has extended far beyond the United States. Aware that he was an Albanian immigrant, city detectives traveled over 4,000 miles to Albania in their search for him. It was also revealed that Mecollari had a criminal record in his home country and is considered a fugitive. He is reportedly on Albania's Most Wanted List. Despite these efforts and a posted reward for information, Ervis Mecollari's whereabouts remain unknown. The case is not just that of a missing person, but a search for a man wanted for questioning in connection with the violent death of his neighbor, leaving a family grieving and a case without closure for many years.Last Seen: Dec 20, 2008
