NY NY - Anthony Guy Urciuoli Jr., 31, Poughkeepsie, 24 Jan 2001

[Rle7]

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: January 24, 2001 from Poughkeepsie, New York
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: October 7, 1969
Age: 31 years old
Height and Weight: 5'10, 130 - 140 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian male. Dark brown to black hair, hazel eyes. Urciuoli's nickname is Tony.
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A black down jacket and jeans.
​

Details of Disappearance

Urciuoli was employed as a server at the Dutchess Diner in Poughkeepsie, New York in 2001. He was last seen by his parents at his family's residence near the Galleria Mall on January 24, 2001. Urciuoli received a page from an unknown person and told his parents he was going to play pool with a friend at approximately 11:30 p.m. He has never been heard from again.
Authorities were unable to trace the page Urciuoli received the night he vanished. He occasionally played pool at Shark's in Fishkill, New York, but no one recalled seeing him at the establishment that night. Urciuoli's vehicle was discovered abandoned on January 26 at approximately 12:45 a.m. His uncle located the car at Spratt Park on Wilbur Boulevard. Urciuoli's wallet was inside the vehicle, which was locked. There was no sign of a struggle at the scene. Investigators stated that it appeared as if Urciuoli parked his car and departed with someone, but there is no evidence to suggest the theory is correct. Urciuoli often worked additional shifts at the restaurant and is regarded as an outstanding employee. His family members said that it is very uncharacteristic of him to leave without warning. Authorities are not certain if Urciuoli left of his own accord or if other factors were involved in his disappearance.
​

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Poughkeepsie Police Department
845-485-3666

Source Information
The National Center for Missing Adults
The Poughkeepsie Journal
Anthony Guy "Tony" Urciuoli Jr. -- Reward: $100,000

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/u/urciuoli_anthony.html

 

[Rle7]

The reward for information on Anthony Urciuoli Jr.'s disappearance has been increased to $100,000 - a small price to pay for a brother, nephew and son.

Urciuoli told his family he was going to meet some friends for pool the night of Jan. 24, 2001. That was the last time he spoke to his family before his gray 2000 Nissan Maxima was discovered the next day on Wilbur Boulevard, in the parking lot of Spratt Park, in the City of Poughkeepsie.

About 40 people attended Sunday's vigil in the same parking lot, which is where family members, who still long for closure, suspect Urciuoli spent his last living moments.

"There's no closure. It's the same," Lisa Urciuoli, the missing man's sister, said. "Every year we relive that day."

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/NEWS01/801280315

 

[Rle7]

bumping...

missing 10 years now

 

[mrsc72]

In todays paper:

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110130/NEWS05/110130010/Vigil-marks-10th-anniversary-of-missing-man-s-disappearance-

 

[OkieGranny]

Missing for 14 years now:

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/...01/25/missing-mananthony-urciuolijr/22323237/

Sunday was not about sorrow, but about hope. Friends and family released nearly 50 balloons and prayed for a resolution... “There are people who are found 10 to 15 years after they have been lost,” Sandra Urciuoli said. “There is always hope.”

So far, no leads have surfaced since the tragedy happened over a decade ago. Sandra Urciuoli said she does not believe her son ran away.

“We were all very close,” she said. “We would go running, laugh, and spend lots of time together. He loved his family and we will always love him.”

 

[MagnoliaMountain]

I remember seeing his picture on MP pages a few years ago. His parents seem to be very strong people, I hope they will get answers soon.

 

[Chi83]

This man was from my hometown and disappeared on my 18th birthday. I pray his family gets an answer someday.

 

[Gardener1850]

Anthony is in NAMUS: The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Circumstances of Disappearance
Unknown. Anthony was last seen when he left his home near the Galleria Mall at approximately midnight. His vehicle was found in a parking lot on Wilbur Blvd. on January 25th.

 

[Tommy2step]

Hoping to bump this case forward. Anthony was from my hometown as well. Hard to believe that no one knows anything. no signs of struggle at the scene means he obviously was with someone he was comfortable with...a familiar person who wouldn't raise any alarms. Unless that person was put up to it to set him up - like a girl he was interested in or a friend who asked him for a favor. Sad that no one has the guts to come forward with any info to give his family some amount of closure.

 

[skybluesea]

Bump

 

[JSolt1210]

I get the feeling he had planned to meet up with someone for sex, and used "playing pool with friends" as an excuse to leave his home which he shared with family.

<modsnip> I mean, really, who wants their parents to know? It would just be so awkward. So it's easier to just say I'm meeting up with friends etc.

That's the feeling I get here. January 24, 2001 was a Wednesday. Did he have the habit of meeting up with friends to shoot pool during the middle of the work week at almost midnight? And even if he did, there's no evidence he set foot in that bar that night.

Actually, there's evidence to the contrary. He lived near the Galleria Mall in Poughkeepsie. I found a closed Sharks Billiard Tavern on Yelp that matches his given destination. But his car was found in Spratt Park, which is in the complete opposite direction of Sharks. Since "no one recalled seeing him at the establishment that night," according to this website, it suggests that Anthony didn't drive to Sharks, but went to the park instead.

In addition, "authorities were unable to trace the page Urciuoli received the night he vanished." So it's not like his friends were at Sharks paging him to see if he was on his way. That suggests to me that it came from outside Anthony's known circle of friends.

Also, to investigators "it appeared as if Urciuoli parked his car and departed with someone," at a park which is already secluded at night. Maybe Anthony didn't want the person to pick him up at home so his family wouldn't know, so one of them suggested that secluded area.

I also doubt Anthony went out to drink or do drugs because, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal, he said he "would be back in an hour or two." I doubt he would've wanted to drive high, or be driven by someone who was too. But an hour or two is just enough time for a sexual encounter, including the drive to and from the location. (Trust me, I've factored time and commute in my escapades lol!) Unfortunately, I think he met up with the wrong person who had another motive in mind.

 

[mjm076]

I’ve just heard of this case as it was featured on this episode of “The John Walsh Show”:

I applaud John Walsh for trying to bring attention to missing adults. Hopefully one good thing that has come out of the horrific Cleveland case is that more attention will be paid toward missing adults since Michelle Knight, an adult when abducted, was one of the victims in the Cleveland case.

As for Anthony U. I don’t think there’s anything to suggest that he was same-sex attracted. Is there a source for this speculation?

 

[MrsBPalm]

I live close to the area, this name popped up to me. I hope I can lend a hand here. Glad to see people are still wanting answers. Amazing how many years have passed. I have family in Poughkeepsie. I'm going to do some digging.

 

[dotr]

2022

Missing for 20 years, Area Family Still Hopeful for Answers

Audrey May Herron was last seen leaving her job in Catskill back in 2002.

hudsonvalleycountry.com

Read More: Audrey May Herron missing for 20 Years | Missing for 20 years, Area Family Still Hopeful for Answers

MISSING: Anthony Urciuoli, Poughkeepsie​

''Growing up Poughkeepsie, I remember seeing the 'Missing' signs all around town for Anthony Urciuoli. On January 24th, 2001, Anthony Urciuoli left his Poughkeepsie home and was never heard from again. On January 25th, 2001 Urciuoli's car was found at the Spratt Park parking lot on Wilbur Boulevard. Anthony Urciuoli has been missing for 21 years with still no answers as to what happened that night back in 2001. Any information about this case can be shared with the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department.

Poughkeepsie NY: 21 Years Later, What Happened? Can You Help?

It has been 20 years since Anthony Tony Urciuoli Jr went missing. Do you hold the key to closure for his family?

943litefm.com

''Twenty-one years ago this month a Poughkeepsie family was devastated. A beloved family member just disappeared and still no one has come forward with information to help find him or to help his family get much needed closure.

Anthony Urciuoli, Jr, Tony to his friends, Little Tony to his mom, went about his day and according to the police report, told his family that he was going to meet some friends and that he would be back in awhile.

Where did he go? Tony lived in Poughkeepsie near the Galleria Mall. He worked part-time at the local diner. According to his mom, Tony was a good kid. For a brief time I worked with Tony's mom, Sandy at a women's clothing store in the Galleria, Gantos. Every once-in-awhile, he would stop in and say hi to his mom. I always just thought it was sweet. This was what you would want your own son to do, right? Just stop in to say hi. Say hello, simply because he was in the same spot, near enough to his mom to do so?

 

[dotr]

Jan 2022

Anthony Guy Urciuoli Jr. – The Charley Project

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''Urciuoli, circa 2001

• Missing Since01/24/2001
• Missing FromPoughkeepsie, New York
• ClassificationEndangered Missing
• SexMale
• RaceWhite
• Date of Birth10/07/1969 (52)
• Age31 years old
• Height and Weight5'10, 130 - 140 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionA puffy black down jacket and baggy jeans.
• Associated Vehicle(s)Gray 2000 Nissan Maxima (accounted for)
• Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian male. Dark brown/black hair, hazel eyes. Urciuoli's nickname is Tony. At the time of his disappearance, his jaw area was discolored and blistered. He previously suffered a gunshot wound to his lower leg.

Details of Disappearance​

Urciuoli was employed as a server at the Dutchess Diner in Poughkeepsie, New York in 2001. He was last seen by his parents at his family's residence near the Galleria Mall on January 24, 2001.''

 

[CastlesBurning]

10 Hudson Valley Mysteries That Remain Unsolved to This Day

Missing Since 2001​

On Jan. 24, 2001, at around 11:30 p.m., Anthony Urciuoli, 31, told his parents, Anthony and Sandra, that a friend had paged him and invited him for a game of pool. The next morning, Sandra looked into her son’s room. It was empty. “Sandy woke me up and said, ‘Tony never came home,’” Anthony told The Poughkeepsie Journal. “We still don’t know why.” Urciuoli has been missing ever since.

The next day a family member found Tony’s car in a parking lot at Spratt Park. His wallet was locked inside. There were no signs of a struggle, and no forensic evidence to help figure out what may have happened or where he may have gone. And the police have never been able to trace the page he received the night he disappeared.

Detectives don’t know if he was abducted, murdered, or simply ran away. “There’s no concrete evidence either way,” Town Detective Michael O’Dell said in 2004. His parents insist it was not plausible for him to leave without warning, and his coworkers at the Dutchess Diner on Route 9, where Tony worked as a waiter for several years, said he was a hard-working, trouble-free employee.

His parents appeared on Montel Williams’ TV show with psychic Sylvia Browne in desperate search for information. They have offered substantial rewards and hired private detectives. They have held vigils in Spratt Park to keep their son’s case on everyone’s minds.

So far, however, nothing has led them to Tony.

 

[Caring1]

21 Unidentified Person Exclusions

 

[Danaya]

I wonder what happened. Could he have been suicidal or was he murdered? I think he was living a double life somehow

 

[LongTimeChinaTime]

Even before reading this thread, the circumstances of this disappearance to me hint at some kind of meetup or encounter.

Now for a bit of speculation.

There is zero surface-based evidence that Tony was “gay”, but a decently sized subset of men sometimes want to meet up with other guys for messing around, humans gonna human. Admittedly this idea is a pet consideration I sometimes bring up because I am gay, and have been alive for many decades. 2001 was an era, especially in that region, where gay concepts were not celebrated. They weren’t widely condemned, but that type of thing you’d just not talk about needlessly. 2001 was also a time where technology facilitated fairly simple secret hookups, mostly online. In the vast majority of cases this is uneventful.

However I think that for a few decades, the facilitation of anonymous internet based sexuality has possibly evinced a fairly rare but measurable, underrepresented and widely scattered phenomenon of violent predation on men, especially in the 1990s-2010s when you have the combination of easy anonymous facilitation but lack of sharing of such personal adult behaviors with your support group or family. I theorize these cases are heterogeneous in motive, victim profile and pattern, and vary depending on the perpetrator and range from homophobia, to basal same-sex jealousy of men more endowed than the offenders, to sexual sadistic serial murder. Even in cases which don’t originate from anonymous online hookups, members of a community may be less likely to talk if it means they could be associated with actively gay behavior. Even in cases where foul play involves a more mundane explanation such as a heated argument or jealousy, a regime where many men are comfortable enough with themselves to explore but not culturally apt to share personal information can breed opportunity for foul play to potentially slip under the radar, because in general investigators or family may be less likely to explore that avenue if there isn’t obvious cause to explore it.

While I am not saying that a gay angle is the most likely solution to this case, the details support consideration of that angle, and I typically will bring the idea up in cases where I think it’s worth considering because my opinion is that a subset of mysterious disappearances of men in recent decades, especially with the advent of the internet, can be explained by a gay angle and when not expected can cause potential trails to be overlooked.

For example I was researching the Brian Shaffer case months ago and when looking over the known reports of data from his cell phone pings, which kept pinging weeks and months after he disappeared. The patterns of these pings seemed to point away from the usual suspects of accident, robbery, voluntary disappearance by exclusion yet I was left with the idea someone was using his phone as a trophy because the phone was evidently being charged for a long time after he went missing, but the phone was not reported to be used for any outbound activity or travel during all this time… Doesn’t outright PROVE a gay predator or serial killer but it supports considering the idea in the case of Brian Shaffer.

With Tony, Who knows if there would be any info or data left to explore after this many years if those avenues werent looked into long ago. I have no idea what actually happened to him I just think this angle has not been considered as often as it may warrant. There are plenty of men who aren’t outright “gay”, but who may experience feelings for guys in some capacity that they occasionally explore amid an otherwise healthy, heteronormative and successful lifestyle.

I think this typically obscure concept has been attempted to be developed other times, such as in the widely discredited “Smiley Face Killers” theory, which could be argued as an attempt to suss out what may be a pattern of homosexual-based or even organized jealousy killings where you can see that there may well be pattern taking shape against the background of cases of misadventure, but the profile would be difficult to form if it were statistically infrequent or varied in nature.

 

[JSolt1210]

Even before reading this thread, the circumstances of this disappearance to me hint at some kind of meetup or encounter.

Now for a bit of speculation.

There is zero surface-based evidence that Tony was “gay”, but a decently sized subset of men sometimes want to meet up with other guys for messing around, humans gonna human...

While I am not saying that a gay angle is the most likely solution to this case, the details support consideration of that angle, and I typically will bring the idea up in cases where I think it’s worth considering because my opinion is that a subset of mysterious disappearances of men in recent decades, especially with the advent of the internet, can be explained by a gay angle and when not expected can cause potential trails to be overlooked...

With Tony, Who knows if there would be any info or data left to explore after this many years if those avenues werent looked into long ago. I have no idea what actually happened to him I just think this angle has not been considered as often as it may warrant. There are plenty of men who aren’t outright “gay”, but who may experience feelings for guys in some capacity that they occasionally explore amid an otherwise healthy, heteronormative and successful lifestyle.

Respectfully snipped for length.

I totally agree with this assessment, and I also wonder if this theory lies behind more cases of missing males than we'd like to admit—like, for example, Michael Negrete and Caleb Harris (before his remains were found).

I wish we knew more about the forensics done in Anthony's case. Authorities were unable to trace the page that Anthony received. Is this because it was from a fake number? A payphone? Was there even a page or did Anthony just make that up to leave the house? He apparently lied about going to Shark's because he wasn't seen there and his car was found in the opposite direction, so did he lie about the page too? Could he have met this "friend" online? It's odd that, as far as we know, this "friend" never surfaced to tell his side of the story.

Also, did police search Anthony's computer? Although computer searches were done in this era (if I recall correctly), digital forensics wouldn't really be defined as a field until later that year after 9/11, so I don't know if the circumstances surrounding Anthony's disappearance would've legally justified a search of his computer. If one had been done, we might know who he was talking to online, but I doubt a search happened because it's never been mentioned. Then again, would AIM, Craigslist, Yahoo! Messenger, etc. have kept records of chats, or did they just not bother because there was no need/ability?