Crime, Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Authorities Seek Public’s Help in Finding Missing Teen

Authorities are seeking assistance from the public in finding a missing Hazlet teenager Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday.

The following photo is the missing juvenile, 14-year-old Damien Thompson. There is reason to believe that he may be in New York City.

Authorities are seeking assistance from the news media and public in attempting to locate a teenager from Hazlet who has been missing for several days and may be in New York City, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Tuesday.

Photos of the missing juvenile, 14-year-old Damien Thompson, are being distributed along with this news release.

Thompson left his home on Liberty Place, between Hopkins and Woody terraces in Hazlet, at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. Since then, investigators have learned that he traveled to Manhattan, possibly by train.

Thompson was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with white skeleton designs on the upper back and left side of the upper front, a tan shirt underneath, dark-colored cargo pants, and sneakers. He has also been known to wear a black ski mask. He stands approximately 5’8″, weighs roughly 130 pounds and has short-cropped hair. He has a distinctive small scar above his left eye.

Anyone with information about Thompson’s whereabouts is asked to contact MCPO Detective Kayla Santiago at 800-533-7443 or Hazlet Police Department Detective Russell Surdi, Jr. at 732-264-6565, Ext. 2112.

— MCPO press release