The person at the center of this case
Samuel Joseph DeLarso
Missing Person · Open
7 years waiting · since 2018
Missing Person: Samuel Joseph DeLarso
Justice for Samuel Joseph DeLarso — the trail went cold in 2018, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1What happened to DeLarso's distinctive personal items, including his Zippo lighters (one with Google eyes, one with a welded silver dime), his silver key chain with fish hook charm, and his crab nets with specific anchors and carabiners?
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location
Lead #2Why was his vehicle parked on W. Newcastle Road, and was this his intended crabbing location or does the location suggest a different sequence of events?
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witness
Lead #3Were there any witnesses at the crabbing area or parking location on the morning of October 20th who saw DeLarso or observed any unusual activity?
Samuel Joseph DeLarso, a 53-year-old resident of Somers Point, New Jersey, disappeared on October 20, 2018, while going crabbing in Ocean City. His vehicle was found parked on W. Newcastle Road, but an extensive search of the surrounding waters by the Coast Guard, State Police, and local authorities yielded no trace of him. The circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear, and investigators continue to seek information about what happened during his final hours.
Case
#1508
Ocean City Police Department and Cape May County Prosecutors Office
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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.
💡
clue
Lead #4DeLarso was wearing specialized fishing gear including a neoprene jacket with an external belt system to keep water out—did this equipment contribute to his disappearance, or could it help identify his body if recovered?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP53327. Missing person: Samuel Joseph DeLarso.
Last known contact: 2018-10-20 in Ocean City, Cape May, NJ. Circumstances: OCEAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE DATE: October 22, 2018 CASE: 18-32049 INCIDENT: Missing Person DATE/TIME OCCURRED: October 22, 2018 @ 9:30pm On October 20, 2018 the Ocean City Police Department received a report of a missing person Samuel J.
DeLarso. DeLarso was last seen by family members at his residence in the early morning hours of Saturday October 20th before leaving his residence to go crabbing.
His vehicle was located in Ocean City parked on W. Newcastle Road.
DeLarso is described as a 53 year old white male, 5’10” tall, 200lbs., wearing blue jeans, a button down shirt and waders. DeLarso resides on 2nd Street in Somers Point.
A search of the waters in the area Delarso went missing was conducted by the United States Coast Guard, New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, Cape May County Prosecutors Office and the Ocean City Police Department. This case remains under investigation by the Ocean City Police Department and Cape May County Prosecutors Office.
OFFICER PREPARING PRESS RELEASE: Det. Sergeant Stephen Sullivan Ocean City Police Department Questions concerning this press release should be referred to the officer preparing the release at (609-399-9111).
ssullivan@ocnj.us Demographics: 53 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 6 ft 2 in, 195 lbs, hair: Black, eyes: Hazel.
Clothing and accessories: Accessories: Ball Cap-snap or Velcro closure No other description available Dark Green Neoprene Fishing Coat; Accessories: Brown leather belt Key holder has a 3 inch, copper colored, large round hooped bottom, that swivels and detaches from latched fob so key rings can be added to it. One key attached to this ring has a black top.
3 crab pot nets, circle shaped, has silver horseshoe shaped anchors that connect into rectangle weights, nets have 15 feet of strings and are white nets. Two of the nets have black colored strings and the other has white.
Each net has a carabiner clip attached that clip onto a belt Samuel wore around the exterior of his jacket. This belt prevented water from entering jacket.
A black strap around one shoulder and across chest that has attached to it a 2 1/2 gallon white plastic bucket with holes drilled in it by Samuel for holding crab. Plain, black, plastic, hard ciggerette container with hand rolled ciggerettes with the brand "Zen" printed on them.
Zippo Lighter- not sure if he had both or just one with him the day he disappeared but neither have been found. One is black with Google eyes glued onto it, the other is silver with a real liberty silver dime welded unto it.; Accessories: Pockets would have fishing related items in them; Clothing: Most likely wearing Wrangler Brand Jeans size 34/34 Always wore a button up dress shirt with a t-shirt underneath.
A button up was given to family after found in the vehicle he drove that day so he may have had just a Large sized t-shirt on at the time of his disappearance. Hanes boxer style underwear, plain colored White crew socks Green crew length water socks Hunter green, neoprene, overall style, Frogg Toggs brand, water pants; Eyewear: Polarized sunglasses with bluish/yellow lenses and the glasses are attached to a fabric lanyard.; Footwear: Work styled water boots, laced, felt soles, size 12, holes on inner and outer sides, crew length Green water socks, crew length; Jewelry: Large diamond stud earring Wore in left ear lobe; Jewelry: Silver chain made out of 20-30 tiny 1/2 inch key rings with a silver fish hook for the charm; Jewelry: Silver, beveled "wedding band" ring with copper wire wrapped around it.
Wore on left hand. Investigating agency: Ocean City Police Department | 18-32049 | 2018-10-20.
Timeline of Events
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2018-10-20
early morningLast Seen at Residence
Samuel DeLarso was last seen by family members at his residence in the early morning hours before leaving to go crabbing.
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2018-10-20
Disappearance
DeLarso left his residence to go crabbing. His vehicle was later found parked on W. Newcastle Road in Ocean City.
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2018-10-22
9:30pmMissing Person Report and Search
Ocean City Police Department received report of missing person. Extensive search conducted by USCG, NJ State Police Marine Unit, Cape May County Prosecutors Office, and Ocean City Police Department.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 20, 2018 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:May 21, 2026
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Phone: 6093999111
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Case Information
Incident:October 20, 2018 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:May 21, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 6093999111
You can remain anonymous