The person at the center of this case
Hakan Karacay
Justice for Hakan Karacay — the trail went cold in 1999, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Why was the Mazda 626 found in Lewis, New York when Karacay had no known connections to that remote area near the Canadian border?
Who was with Karacay or what circumstances led him to travel 60 miles north from New Jersey toward the Canadian border?
What happened during the nine days between Karacay's disappearance and the vehicle's discovery on September 29?
On September 20, 1999, Hakan Karacay disappeared from Clifton, New Jersey after leaving his family's apartment in his brother's silver Mazda 626. The vehicle was recovered nine days later on Wells Hill Road in Lewis, New York, 60 miles south of the Canadian border—an area with no known connection to Karacay. His current whereabouts remain unknown, and investigators seek information about the circumstances of his disappearance and what occurred after he left New Jersey.
Try asking
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
Were there any signs of foul play, struggle, or forensic evidence found in or around the recovered vehicle?
Did anyone see Karacay or the silver Mazda 626 traveling on Interstate 87 or in the Lewis, New York area between September 20-29?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
September 20, 1999 Clifton, New Jersey On September 20, 1999, Hakan Karacay was reportedly last seen by his brother at approximately 5:00 p.m., leaving the apartment he shared with their parents in Clifton, New Jersey, and has not been seen since. Karacay left in his brother’s car, a silver 1989 Mazda 626, license plate: RW3-48E, NJ, which was recovered on September 29, 1999, on Wells Hill Road in Lewis, New York; about 5 miles west of Interstate 87 and 60 miles south of the Canadian border.
Karacay had no known relation to the area in which the vehicle was found. The Clifton Police Department in New Jersey, is asking for assistance in locating Karacay or obtaining details regarding his disappearance.
Remarks: Karacay was last seen wearing brown pants, a gray/black shirt, and black shoes.
Hakan Karacay last seen leaving family apartment in Clifton, New Jersey at approximately 5:00 p.m. in his brother's silver 1989 Mazda 626, license plate RW3-48E, NJ. Wearing brown pants, gray/black shirt, and black shoes.
Silver 1989 Mazda 626 recovered on Wells Hill Road in Lewis, New York, approximately 5 miles west of Interstate 87 and 60 miles south of the Canadian border.