Cold Case: The New York State Police continue to investigate a missing persons case from 1997
Cold Case: State police continue investigating 1997 missing persons case
State police continue to investigate the missing person case of 62-year-old John Sapienza.
Sapienza has been missing since Feb. 24, 1997 from St. Johnsville.
A friend reported him missing Feb. 27 after receiving a phone call from Sapienza’s wife that his vehicle was found abandoned in a grocery store parking lot in New Hartford. A manager confirmed the van had been there for about four weeks.
Prior to Sapienza’s disappearance, he had separated from his wife. He planned to travel cross country to visit his daughter in California. He never arrived in California, and has not been heard from again.
Police believe John is missing under suspicious circumstances. His daughter stated he would not have left possessions behind to start a new life. The case remains unsolved.
At the time of his disappearance, Sapienza was 62 years old, 5’8” and 135 pounds. He had gray hair, brown eyes and may have a mustache.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Troop D Headquarters at 315-366-6000.