Crime & Safety

Billboards Going Up in Search for Missing Bedminster Man

First billboard to be placed in Fort Lee, where his phone was pinged on June 20.

As the search for a Bedminster man missing since June 20 continues, an organization known as LostNMissing is arranging for placement of two billboards in Fort Lee and Hoboken since it appears that Roger Temple, 44, may have headed in that direction last month.

Temple's cell phone, on which he last texted his girlfriend that his phone battery was dead on June 20, was pinged from Fort Lee at around 6 p.m. on that date, said Bedminster Township Police Lt. Craig Meyer, the department's point person for any information to assist the search.

Temple is described as a white British man, 5 feet, 7 inches, and weighing around 175 pounds with hazel eyes. He was seen at his home in Bedminster shortly before final phone contact on June 19, according to reports.

Meyer said that of of late Friday afternoon, there were no leads in the search for Temple. He added that Temple's brother was planning to come from England to assist in seeking his brother.

Meanwhile, the first billboard to be placed by LostNMissing will go up on Aug. 2 on Hudson Street in Fort Lee, Meyer said.

The second, if necessary, would be placed on Paterson Avenue and Marsh Street in Hoboken later in the fall, Meyer said. The organization wants to spread out the placement to keep up public attention on Temple's disappearance.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, friends and family announced a $2,000 reward for information leading to Temple's return through authorities and on a Facebook page set up to release and collect information on Temple.

On the Facebook page, Temple's friends offer him assurances he is "loved and missed."

Meyer added that hiking clubs, police in state parks and Crime Stoppers of Somerset County have been asked to help keep an eye our for the missing man, a hiking enthusiast.

The Facebook page says that LostNMissing Inc, a nonprofit organization working with Temple's family, was making an announcement approved by Nick Temple, Roger Temple's brother: "The family of Roger Temple is now offering a $2000.00 reward for viable information leading to the safe return of Roger. Please help share his new missing poster." 

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In information released on Temple, the Facebook page says, "It is very possible that Roger may have been wearing his backpack, hiking shorts, and more than probable he had on white tennis shoes as his hiking shoes were in his town-home. He is an avid tennis fan, a hiker and has a very kind and quiet demeanor. Roger is not the kind of person to just not make contact with family nor friends, especially considering he has an elderly mother who resides in England. He would not want her to be so worried at such a distance away.

"His disappearance is puzzling, and concerning," said the description. Police have said since the beginning that the missing man is considered "endangered."

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Temple has apparently not made bank withdrawals or used credit cards since his disappearance, LostNMissing's account set up for him says. 

His phone also has not provided any clues since it could not be pinged since June 20, according to police and LostNMissing.

Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, by calling 1-888-577-TIPS. (888-577-8477) Those with a tip may also use the oranization's online form at:http://www.888577tips.org/tips.aspx 



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