Name: Mark Joseph Himebaugh
Age: 11 years old
Last seen: November 25, 1991
Location: Del Haven, New Jersey
Status: Still missing
Case Information
11 year old Mark Himebaugh was last seen near his family home in Del Haven, New Jersey on November 25, 1991. He disappeared after telling his mother he was going to watch firefighters extinguish a fire about a quarter of a mile away from their home.
Background
Mark Himebaugh was born on May 23, 1980. At the time of his disappearance he was living with mother and older brother at their family home on Sunny Road in the rural town of Del Haven, New Jersey.
He was a sixth grader at Cape May County Alternative Middle School.
Mark had a history of tantrums and angry outbursts, and was taking Prozac at the time of his disappearance. He may also have obsessive compulsive disorder. His behavior began to improve with the help of medication and therapy.
Disappearance
Mark Himebaugh was last seen near his home on Sunny Road in Del Haven, New Jersey on November 25, 1991.
Around 4:00 pm Mark’s mother left home to go drop off a neighbor at a repair shop in Middle Township so they could pick up their car. Mark didn’t want to go with her because a brush fire had broken out near their home and he wanted to go watch.
The errand would have usually taken five minutes, but his mother was delayed and didn’t return until 40 minutes later. When she came back home Mark was nowhere to be seen.
At first she assumed he might be hanging out with neighborhood children, but when he still hadn’t returned by 5:00 pm she reported him missing to the Middle Township Police Department.
Investigation
On the day Mark went missing police had set up a detour on his street due to the fire, which flooded the neighborhood with traffic and may have led to Mark’s abduction.
The last confirmed sighting of Mark was at about 4:00 pm at a local park on the day he disappeared.
Investigators found Mark’s left shoe at Sunray Beach, about 75 yards from his family home, on the day of his disappearance. His footprints were also observed above the tide line, but no additional clues as to his whereabouts were found.
There was a potential sighting of Mark with two men on the day he disappeared. One is described as 30-35 years old, about 5’8 tall and 150 pounds. He had dark reddish brown hair in a ponytail. This sighting has never been confirmed, nor has the identity of the men.
In 1993, a local sex offender, Thomas Butcavage Jr, was named a person of interest in Mark’s disappearance. A former client of Butcavage’s came forward and told authorities that on the night of February 14, 1993, Butcavage showed him a graphic video of a boy who was handcuffed and gagged. He says the boy was assaulted in the video, and that he’s positive it was Mark.
When the client asked Butcavage if it was the missing New Jersey Boy in the video, Butcavage reportedly said it was and that he disposed of him as he had done with five or six other kids.
Investigators searched Butcavage’s apartment, but he has never been charged in connection to the case. Butcavage denies any involvement in the case.
In 2023, the Middle Township Police Department and Cape May Prosecutor’s Office announced that they had entered an agreement with Tabtu Corp to use AI to assist with the case. The hope is that the AI will be able to find patterns that can provide additional clues as to what happened in Mark’s case.
Whereabouts
Foul play is suspected in Mark Himebaugh’s disappearance. Authorities believe he was abducted by a stranger. His case is classified as endangered missing and remains unsolved.
Appearance
White male born on May 23, 1980. Mark has red hair, freckles, and blue eyes. At the time of his disappearance he stood 4’6 and weighed 85 pounds.
Mark’s left foot was healing from a fracture when he went missing.
Clothing & Accessories:
Mark was last seen wearing a blue U.S.N. sweatshirt, a grey jacket with red, blue and grey plaid lining that had four outer pockets with velcro, gray Docker pants, and red and white L.A. Gear sneakers.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh please contact the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at (609) 465-1135, or the Middle Township Police Department at (609) 465-8700.
Resources & Further Information
Mark Himebaugh – NamUS
Mark Joseph Himebaugh – The Charley Project
News & Media Links
Police Hope AI Can Help Solve 1991 Cape May County Cold Case – CBS
What Happened to Mark Himebaugh, NJ Boy Who Vanished in 1991? – People
Middle Township Mom Has Been Waiting 27 Years For Her Son to Come Home – WPG
Former Prostitute Says He Saw Person of Interest Sexually Assault Missing NJ Boy – NBC
Videos & Flyers
Did he manage to get to the fire that the fire – fighters were busy trying to put out , was anybody else there that knew him ? .
At the time was it an area that was built up or a lot of construction going on ? .
Did anybody move out of the immediate area during this period ( in / out ) ? .
What was his interests growing up ,that could have led to a career in later years , was there a particular area that he liked to go to if the opportunity presented itself were he would have liked to have gone ? .