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Missing Joseph David Helt 
Joseph, approximately 1987; Age at the time of disappearance: -progression to Age at the time of disappearance: 50 (approximately 2019) Date reported missing : 01/16/1987 Missing location (approx) : Ellenville, New York Missing classification : Lost/Injured Missing Gender : Male Ethnicity : White DOB : 07/18/1969 (52) Age at the time of disappearance: 17 years old Height / Weight : 5'9, 150 pounds Description, clothing, jewerly and more : A camouflAge at the time of disappearance: -print jacket, a t-shirt, a long-sleeved thermal shirt, a gray hooded sweatshirt and white high-top sneakers. Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos : Caucasian male. Blond hair, brown eyes. Joseph's nickname is Joe. Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Joseph was last seen near Sam's Point ice caves in Ellenville, New York on January 16, 1987. He and three friends, John LaForge, Wade Marks and Kelly Diaz, were staying at the Mount Cathalia Lodge when they decided to go for a late-night drive in LaForge's Subaru. Joseph was driving when their car got stuck in the snow at approximately 3:30 a.m. The four young men were unable to push the car out and Joseph left the car and went to get help at the villAge at the time of disappearance: five miles downhill. Diaz and Marks also abandoned the car a short time later, then LaForge left as well, separately from the others. The three other boys made it to safety, but Joseph has never been seen from again. The others assumed he had gone home and didn't realize he was missing until the next day, when LaForge went back to retrieve his car. An extensive search turned up no sign of Joseph. The inclement weather seriously hampered the search efforts; there was a great deal of snow and high winds, and most of the roads on the mountain were impassible. At the time of his disappearance, Joseph worked alongside his mother at the Auction Barn in Napanoch, New York. He was interested in rock music, particularly the band KISS. Both of his parents have died in the years since his disappearance, but his aunt and his friends hope he may yet be located. Other information and links : ncy New York State Police Ellenville Office 845-626-2800 September 2021 updates and sources The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children The Albany Times Union The Shawangunk Journal Unsolved in the News |