Two-year-old Curtis McCoy vanished from a Newark street on November 18, 1989, while visiting his father for the Thanksgiving holiday. He was described as an African American male about 1 foot 8 inches tall and 25 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a green jacket, blue jeans, a grey shirt, white sneakers, and a blue Yankee hat; family noted two marks on his back.

Initial inquiries treated the case as a possible stranger abduction. Years later new leads emerged: in September 2005 Curtis Williams and Sabetha Moore were arrested on fraud charges that included claiming the missing child as a dependent. In January 2006 Moore testified that Williams had killed Curtis. Williams later admitted to killing his son and said he buried the boy under the New Jersey Turnpike in Jersey City; searches of the area have not recovered remains. Williams pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension in May 2007 and received time served and probation, a result criticized by the child’s mother.

Anyone who knew Curtis, the family, or has information about the area under the Turnpike is asked to come forward.