Reward in 1973 NJ missing persons case

Monmouth County Crime Stoppers and Wall Township PBA Local 234 recently announced, on the anniversary of the disappearance of Jan Andrea Cotta, that the agencies were offering up to a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the 41-year-old case.

Investigating Detective Sgt. Joseph Wilbert with the Wall Township Police Department said the 19-year-old woman disappeared from her property in the Allenwood section of the township in 1973.

Authorities are seeking a "person of interest" in the case. Wilbert said Eric Shore of New York knew the victim.

"We are attempting to locate him; he is not a suspect," said Wilbert, adding that Shore may have information about Jan Cotta from around the time of her disappearance.

Shore's girlfriend at the time was employed as a hairdresser in Deal.

The Cotta family went to police in 2004 seeking to have the case investigated further. Wilbert said since then, authorities have concluded nearly 300 interviews.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers' confidential telephone tip line by calling 1-800-671-4400. Tips also can be texted to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword MONMOUTH, or emailed to monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com. In addition, information can be provided to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).