NJ town provides ,000 reward for information about missing Rutgers University student
In an effort to garner information about the whereabouts of Mortimer Wortman, a Rutgers University student who has been missing since November 21, 2023, Jackson Township officials have announced a ,000 reward. Wortman, a 22-year-old senior, was last seen leaving a school parking lot, and local authorities are working diligently to uncover details that may lead to his discovery.
The reward funding has been personally provided by Mayor Jennifer Kuhn and Councilman Christopher Pollak, highlighting the community’s commitment to resolving this distressing situation. The missing student was reportedly seen on surveillance footage disappearing from the school’s premises on the night he went missing, a detail shared by his brother, Ivan Marks.
On the night of his disappearance, Wortman met with an acquaintance named Adam Zalouk, who had a prior altercation with Wortman that involved a knife. According to Zalouk’s account to law enforcement, the two engaged in a confrontation that led Wortman to flee into the surrounding woods of Colliers Mills. Despite this information, law enforcement has yet to publicly identify any suspects or persons of interest in the case, leaving family and friends in a state of uncertainty.
At a town council meeting last week, Nicholas Moccio, a friend and roommate of Wortman, emphasized the urgency of the situation. He voiced a collective yearning for closure, noting, “Mortimer’s family deserves answers.” Moccio highlighted the importance of community involvement, stating that residents of Jackson Township should feel assured that efforts are being made to search for missing individuals.
Family members and friends have organized daily search efforts since Wortman’s disappearance, demonstrating a profound determination to bring him home. In a joint statement, Kuhn and Pollak expressed their sentiments, stating, “We desperately want this young man to return to his friends and loved ones. Together we hope this reward may convince someone who saw something or heard something to come forward.”
Wortman is described as being approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, with light skin, dark brown hair, and brown eyes. He has piercings in both his nose and ears. In a show of support, a candlelight vigil for Wortman is scheduled to take place outside the Regional Day School in Jackson Township on Sunday evening, bringing the community together in hopes of a safe return.
Media News Source reports that the local community is rallying behind the search effort, underlining the importance of cooperation and vigilance in tragic circumstances such as this.
