In late January of 2022, John H. Dayton IV, a 55-year-old butcher, went missing from his home in Woodbine, New Jersey. The last confirmed sighting of him was on January 25, 2022, when he picked up his paycheck from Smokey's Meat Market on Washington Avenue, where he was employed. Dayton lived in a boarding house conveniently located across the street from his workplace, but he never returned home after collecting his pay. Concern for his well-being grew when his family, with whom he usually spoke on a weekly basis, did not hear from him. His daughter last spoke with him on the day he was last seen at his job. An unconfirmed sighting placed him on Franklin Street in Woodbine sometime between January 31 and February 2 of that year.
Described as a charming and outgoing individual, John Dayton was a man of routine and known to frequent several local establishments. He was an avid deer hunter and outdoorsman.
Besides Smokey's Meat Market, he was also a familiar face at Bubba's Discount Liquor Store on Delsea Drive in Vineland. He also had connections to the New Jersey communities of Cape May Court House, Rosenhayn, and Newfield. At the time he went missing, Dayton did not own a vehicle or a cell phone, and was last seen on foot. He is described as a white male, standing at 5'9' and weighing around 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. A distinguishing feature is that his front teeth are capped.
The investigation into John Dayton's disappearance is being handled by the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit. Since he was reported missing, authorities have found no evidence of him accessing state benefits or any record of his social security number being used for employment. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, with very few details available to the public. The case is a deeply concerning one for his loved ones and the community, as a man with consistent family contact and established local ties vanished without a trace. The lack of any significant leads or information on his whereabouts has left his family searching for answers.Last Seen: Jan 31, 2022
