Secaucus police recovered a body from the Hackensack River on April 17, 2026, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. On Wednesday, April 22, investigators confirmed the remains were those of Emilio Acosta-Gutierrez, a 20-year-old Weehawken man who had been missing since mid-December 2025.
The identification brings a devastating end to a search that lasted more than four months and involved drone sweeps, community outreach and desperate efforts by a family who feared their son was in crisis without access to critical medication.
Acosta-Gutierrez walked out of his family’s Weehawken home around midnight on December 18, 2025, and never returned. His father, Idelfonso Acosta, told authorities he believed his son was experiencing a mental health emergency at the time of his disappearance.
Cellphone data provided investigators with a crucial lead. The last ping from Acosta-Gutierrez’ device was detected near the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford on the same day he vanished. Police used drones and ground teams to search the sprawling area around the retail and entertainment complex, but the trail went cold as winter progressed without yielding any sign of the young man.
In January, Idelfonso Acosta spoke with News 12 in an emotional interview, appealing to the public for information and revealing details about his son’s medical condition in hopes someone might come forward.
“Our son has been living with bipolar disorder…he is under proper care, but has, since he left the house, he has not had his medication,” Acosta told News 12 at the time.
That separation from medication compounded the family’s fear. For someone managing bipolar disorder, an abrupt halt to treatment can trigger severe symptoms, and the family worried about what might happen to Emilio during the cold New Jersey winter without his prescriptions or support.
The Hackensack River, where Acosta-Gutierrez’ body was found, flows through Bergen and Hudson County before emptying into Newark Bay. Tidal currents in the waterway can move bodies considerable distances, making it difficult to determine where someone may have entered the water.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has released no information about how Acosta-Gutierrez died or what circumstances led to his body ending up in the river. NBC New York reported that officials declined to provide additional details beyond confirming the identification. No cause of death has been disclosed, and authorities have not indicated whether they suspect foul play or believe the death resulted from the mental health crisis his father described.
News of the discovery, shared by News 12’s Matt Trapani on Wednesday evening, prompted an outpouring of grief from neighbors and supporters who had circulated flyers on social media throughout the winter and spring, keeping Emilio’s name and face in public view.
The Acosta family now faces the anguish of laying their son to rest after months of uncertainty. What began as a frantic search in mid-December has ended with confirmation every family dreads, closing a chapter marked by hope, fear and ultimately heartbreak.