Wednesday, July 29, 2026 n www.TheObserver.com n Volume CXXXIX, Issue No. 12 w
UNDER THE COVER State’s e-bike law now in effect. Find tips from the North Arlington Police Department. Page 5
WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO NICKY?
BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY
Kearny PD, Fabula reopen case of man who disappeared in September 1974 By Kevin A. Canessa Jr.
T
kc@theobserver.com
he Kearny Police Department is taking a renewed look at the disappearance of a man who disappeared nearly 51 years ago and is appealing to anyone who may still has information about the case to come forward, Det Sgt. John Fabula, who is investigating the case, said. Nicholas James Maschuci, of Kearny, was 60 years old at the time of his disappearance and was last seen in Kearny Sept. 18, 1974. He left his home for a reported business meeting in Brooklyn and was never seen or heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, he was driving a white 1974 Mercury Grand Marquis. His case remains unresolved to this day and is listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as case MP9701.
“After more than five decades, Nicholas Maschuci’s family still does not have answers, and this department has not closed the book on his case,”Fabula, of the KPD’s Detective Bureau, said. “We’ve been back through this case, and we believe there are people who remember more than they realize. A conversation, a name, something that seemed unimportant in 1974 could matter now. We’re asking anyone with a memory of Nicholas or that time to reach out. Let us decide what’s useful.” About Nicholas Maschuci At the time he went missing, Maschuci was described as: White man, born Dec. 3, 1913 Approximately 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, roughly 210 pounds Grey hair, balding, with blue eyes; he wore gold-rimmed bifocal eyeglasses and had an artificial right eye
Maschuci, witnessed events surrounding his disappearance or later learned relevant information may now be willing to speak. Even decades-old recollections may be valuable.
Maschuci sometime in the 1970s Known to use the nickname “Nicky” Investigators recognize that given the passage of time, individuals who knew
How to submit a tip The Kearny Police Department is asking anyone with information about the disappearance of Nicholas Maschuci to contact investigators. Tips may be provided anonymously. No detail is too small. Tips Line (201) 283-5656 Email: tips@kearnynjpd.org By mail: Kearny Police Department, Attn: Sgt. John Fabula, 237 Laurel Ave., Kearny, N.J. 07032 Members of the public who wish to remain anonymous may do so; they are not required to provide their name or identifying information to share what they know.