The household of a Rutgers scholar lacking since November are outraged the final particular person to see him is strolling free — regardless of pleading responsible to threatening the sufferer.
Mortimer “Morty” Wortman IV, of Jackson, NJ, was final seen on Nov. 21, when surveillance cameras picked him up getting right into a automobile with Adam Zalouk, the automobile’s proprietor, within the car parking zone of the Regional Day College, about 4 miles from Rutgers in Jackson.
Wortman’s automobile was present in the identical car parking zone three months later. The senior was by no means seen once more.
With authorities providing a $10,000 reward for details about the panorama structure scholar’s whereabouts, the lacking man’s family and friends at the moment are pointing the finger at Zalouk, who they are saying had a historical past of stalking and threatening Wortman.
Zalouk reported Wortman lacking 18 hours after he was final seen, in response to police. Zalouk instructed investigators that he and the 22-year-old received right into a struggle, so the scholar received out of the automobile and wandered into close by woods to stroll residence, Wortman’s mom Johanna Reyes instructed The Put up.
On Monday, Zalouk pleaded responsible to third-degree terroristic threats towards Wortman throughout a July encounter in Level Nice, NJ, by which he chased Wortman with a knife and carved “slut” into his automobile — allegedly after Wortman rejected him, police stated.
However Zalouk was handed a candy deal — pre-trial intervention with no jail time, whereas weapons and felony mischief costs have been dropped, NJ.com reported.
Zalouk has not been charged in reference to Wortman’s disappearance.
Ocean County prosecutors stated they have been hamstrung within the Zalouk case, sarcastically, as a result of Wortman was not there to testify.
“We have been all disillusioned,” Reyes instructed The Put up of the prosecution. “However this isn’t the tip. We’re simply going to hope that [Zalouk] messes up, which he most certainly he’ll. My major focus is discovering my son.”
Wortman’s family members sat behind Zalouk in court docket with posters of the lacking man, whose father bluntly addressed the choose.
“I actually imagine Adam is aware of the place my son is at,” Mortimer Wortman III stated, in response to Information 12. “He’s been stalking him.”
The precise nature of Wortman and Zalouk’s relationship stays unclear. Information 12 reported that the pair have been romantically concerned, however Wortman’s shut buddies Abi Bischoff and Nick Moccio instructed The Put up they weren’t.
Moccio, 22, has devoted his Instagram account to discovering Wortman.
“The one particular person that might inform us the place he’s Adam and he’s nonetheless free and he’s nonetheless not telling the reality,” Moccio instructed The Put up.
Wortman’s mom stated that a few week earlier than her son went lacking, her husband noticed Zalouk’s automobile lurking exterior of their residence. The household didn’t alert police till after Wortman disappeared, she famous.
The dad “stated that when he went to inform my son that there was any individual on the market in a white automobile, and my son like jumped off the bed scared,” Reyes recalled.
Wortman even instructed his dad and mom to ensure the doorways have been locked, Moccio alleged. “He was involved for his or her security.”
Moccio and Bischoff, 23, additionally claimed that Zalouk’s household has been hindering search efforts.
His father, Osama Zalouk, tore down lacking posters for Wortman on Staten Island.
Osama Zalouk admitted to ripping down the posters, telling The Put up he solely did so as a result of his son’s face was on them.
He claimed Zalouk has been instructed by legal professionals to not remark. Alex Zalouk couldn’t be reached for remark.
The elder Zalouk stated his son and Wortman had a “minor argument” earlier than they scholar disappeared, and that Zalouk “was searching for him all evening.”
“Morty’s one of the best particular person I do know,” Moccio stated. “He didn’t deserve this and this was not speculated to occur to Morty.”
Reyes stated her toddler asks day by day the place her brother is, and that she and her husband take turns crying to try to keep robust in entrance of the little lady.
“My complete household is simply hurting,” Reyes stated. “He’s simply so liked by all and it’s been very arduous with out him.”
