The person at the center of this case
Hakan Karacay
Violent Crime · Open
26 years waiting · since 1999
HAKAN KARACAY - CLIFTON, NEW JERSEY
Justice for Hakan Karacay — the trail went cold in 1999, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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vehicle
Lead #1Why was the vehicle found in Lewis, New York, an area with no known connection to Karacay? Who recovered it and under what circumstances?
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timeline
Lead #2What happened during the nine days between September 20 and September 29? Were there any sightings or activities involving the vehicle?
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location
Lead #3Does the proximity to the Canadian border suggest a possible crossing, or was the vehicle location a deliberate placement?
Hakan Karacay disappeared on September 20, 1999, from Clifton, New Jersey, after leaving his 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—in an area where Karacay had no known connections. His whereabouts remain unknown, and investigators seek information about what happened during those critical nine days.
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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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witness
Lead #4Did anyone see Karacay or the Mazda 626 between Clifton, NJ and Lewis, NY during this period?
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evidence
Lead #5What condition was the vehicle in when recovered, and were there any physical evidence or personal belongings inside?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
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.
Timeline of Events
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1999-09-20
17:00Last Sighting
Hakan Karacay last seen by his brother leaving apartment in silver 1989 Mazda 626, license plate RW3-48E (NJ), wearing brown pants, gray/black shirt, and black shoes.
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1999-09-29
Vehicle Recovered
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.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 20, 1999 at 5:00 PM
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 20, 1999 at 5:00 PM
Last Updated:April 29, 2026