The person at the center of this case
David Williams (age 12 at disappearance)
Missing Person · Open
51 years waiting · since 1975
DAVID WILLIAMS
Justice for David Williams (age 12 at disappearance) — the trail went cold in 1975, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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person
Lead #1Steven Anderson, age 17, disappeared alongside David Williams—what was his condition and capability to care for himself or David?
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evidence
Lead #2David wore a distinctive blue jacket and striped pants and a protective helmet—have any of these items ever been recovered?
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clue
Lead #3Both boys had developmental disabilities and required supervision—could they have left the 1,896-acre facility grounds, or did someone take them?
On April 7, 1975, David Williams, age 12, and his roommate Steven Anderson, age 17, disappeared from the New Lisbon State School in Burlington County, New Jersey while walking from a ball field to their residence. Both boys had developmental disabilities and required supervision; David was epileptic and dependent on daily medication without which he risked serious seizures. Nearly 50 years later, their fate remains unknown, and investigators seek any information about what happened to these vulnerable young men.
Case
#270
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Newark Field Office; Atlantic City Resident Agency
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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timeline
Lead #4The disappearance occurred during daylight hours (4:15 p.m.) at a staffed institutional facility—why were two vulnerable children not immediately accounted for?
📞
contact
Lead #5Anyone with information should contact the FBI Atlantic City Resident Agency at (609) 677-6400 or the Newark Field Office.
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
April 7, 1975 New Lisbon, Burlington County, New Jersey David Williams, then age 12, and Steven Anderson , then age 17, were reported missing from the New Lisbon State School, now called the New Lisbon Developmental Center, located in Burlington County, New Jersey, on April 7, 1975. Both boys lived at the 1,896-acre center located off Route 72 in the New Jersey Pinelands.
They had diagnosed developmental disabilities and were unable to care for themselves without supervision. The boys, who were roommates, were last seen at approximately 4:15 p.m., walking towards their residence from a nearby ball field where they had been playing with staff members.
Remarks: At the time of his disappearance, David generally wore a helmet to protect his head, as he was an epileptic who needed to take daily medication. Without that medication, David could have suffered a Grand Mal seizure.
He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and striped pants.
Timeline of Events
👁️
1975-04-07
16:15Last sighting of David Williams and Steven Anderson
Both boys were last seen at approximately 4:15 p.m. walking from a nearby ball field towards their residence after playing with staff members.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 7, 1975 at 4:15 PM
Last Updated:July 23, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 7, 1975 at 4:15 PM
Last Updated:July 23, 2026