Elizabeth cold case: Where is Kevin Barthrop, who disappeared in 1999 at age 2?

ELIZABETH - Today, Kevin Sabir Barthrop would be a 22-year-old man, but in 1999 he had just turned 2-years-old when he disappeared from his Elizabeth neighborhood, never to be seen again.

To mark the 20th anniversary of his June 12, 1999 disappearance, the Union County Prosecutor's Office on Monday released a New Jersey State Police sketch of what  Barthrop would look like today as a young man and asked the public for any information about his location as police continue to investigate.

The image has been shared with local, county and federal authorities online and in the neighborhood where Barthrop was last seen in the two weeks before he disappeared, the release states.   

In addition, Union County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Barthrop being found or an arrest and indictment being made in connection with his disappearance.

Barthrop was last seen near his home on the 100 block of Chilton Street in Elizabeth on Saturday, June 12, 1999 shortly after he turned 2, acting Union County Prosecutor Jennifer Davenport said in a release.  

At that time, he was described as 3-feet-tall, weighing 30 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He had turned 2-years-old on May 6, 1999. Foul play is suspected with Barthrop's disappearance, according to the poster on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's website.

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People who are believed to have information about Barthrop's fate are known to be living in Essex and Union counties as well as North Carolina, the release states.

The Prosecutor's Office thanked the FBI, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, National Crime Information Center, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency, New Jersey State Police, University of North Texas Center for Human ldentification, Bergen County Sheriff's Office, Union County Sheriff's Office, Elizabeth Police Department and the Rocky Mount North Carolina Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

Anyone with information about Barthrop's disappearance is urged to contact Prosecutor’s Office Sgt. Michael Manochio at 908-966-2287 or Sgt. Janet Lopez at 908-347-8491. 

In addition, tips can be given anonymously to Union County Crime Stoppers by calling  908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org.

Suzanne Russell covers crime, courts and other forms of mayhem from throughout the Central Jersey area for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact her at srussell@gannettnj.com.