Family and friends of a South Jersey Marine veteran missing for the past three weeks were joined by the public to take part in a large Christmas Eve search for him.
Lance James, 29, disappeared on Dec. 2 following an altercation at a Clementon, New Jersey bar. He then vanished without his cellphone and coat. The phone and his debit card haven't been used since that night.
The bar, Hide-A-Way, was less than a mile from James' apartment.
NBC10.com first reported on James' disappearance two weeks ago. Since then, police have searched the woods on foot, deployed drones to survey from the air and used sonar and dredging equipment to check three lakes near Clementon Park.
None of the efforts have proved fruitful.
James' sister, Jessica Hassan, organized a volunteer search party to go over the area again on Saturday. About 50 people came out on a rainy morning to take part and look for clues that could lead to James' whereabouts.
"We know it's Christmas Eve and it is asking a lot from families, we just want the chance to spend it with ours too, home and safe," Hassan said Friday. "We thank everyone for all the support the community has shown us."
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The volunteers spent about three hours searching but turned up no new clues, said Hassan. The group did, however, clear a lot more area, she said.
A $5,000 reward is being offered through the Camden County Prosecutor's Office for anyone who finds James, who is a father and completed one-year tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Anyone with information about James disappearance is asked to call 609-575-6104 or email CCPOTips@CCProsecutor.org.
