State Police continue to investigate an 18-year-old missing person case from Essex County.

On September 21, 1999, the Clifton Police Department in New Jersey received a report of a missing person.

Family members reported that Hakan Karacay, a 28-year-old immigrant from Turkey, left his residence on September 20, 1999, at approximately 5 pm, operating a silver 1989 Mazda 626.

Karacay was described to be suffering from depression and was dependent on medication which he failed to take with him.

On September 25, 1999, the New York State Police received a report of a suspicious vehicle located by a citizen on Wells Hill Road in Lewis, New York.

Responding troopers located the unattended 1989 Mazda which was believed to be operated by Hakan Karacay.

There were no signs of foul play at the scene where the vehicle was located.

An extensive ground search, which included aviation and K-9 assets, was conducted by the New York State Police, New York State Forest Rangers and Environmental Conservation Police.

Karacay was never located and no information or evidence has been developed to determine, if in fact, Karacay had driven the vehicle to that location on Wells Hill Road in Lewis.

To date, Karacay remains the subject of an active missing person investigation.

Karacay was described as being 6’2 and 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing a gray, short sleeved collared shirt, khaki colored pants and black dress shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations in Lewis at (518) 873-2750.

Photos, from above: Hakan Karacay, and Karacay’s vehicle provided by New York State Police.