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Weehawken family seeks help finding man missing for 3 weeks

Emilio Acosta was last seen leaving his family’s home just after midnight on Dec. 18. According to his father, Idelfonso Acosta, the family has not heard from him since.

Jennifer Portorreal

Jan 11, 2026, 5:19 PM

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A family in Weehawken is asking for the public’s help as they continue searching for their son who has been missing for more than three weeks.

Emilio Acosta was last seen leaving his family’s home just after midnight on Dec. 18. According to his father, Idelfonso Acosta, the family has not heard from him since.

“We are desperate,” Acosta said. “We ask the community to take a close look at his picture and if they see him, just communicate directly with the Weehawken Police Department.”

The family believes Emilio was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time he disappeared. They say he lives with bipolar disorder and has not had his medication since leaving home.

Weehawken police say they have been following up on leads since Emilio was reported missing. Surveillance footage shows him walking near a Shell gas station in Secaucus, which is his last known location, police said.

Authorities say Emilio has not used his cellphone or contacted anyone he knows, making it difficult to track his movements. Police also say the phone’s last location ping was near the American Dream mall.

At the time he was last seen, Emilio was wearing a cream-colored New York Yankees sweatshirt, a blue Adidas ski jacket, beige pants and black Timberland boots.

Despite the lack of new leads, Emilio’s family says they are not giving up hope and believe the right tip could bring him home.

Anyone who sees Emilio Acosta or has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Weehawken Police Department at 201-863-7800.

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