Authorities intensify search for missing Linden woman

Tyrita Julius was last seen on March 8 in Monmouth County, authorities said. Watch video

FREEHOLD -- Authorities have intensified their search for a Linden woman who has been missing for more than a month after heading to meet with a friend in Monmouth County.

Tyrita Julius, 41, who was the victim of a shooting in November, was due home the night of March 8 but never showed up.

Now authorities, who say they haven't had many solid leads to follow in Julius' disappearance, have increased the reward money for information that helps locate her.

"It's a very sad story," said Linden police Chief James M. Schulhafer. "Just when all seemed to be going well, she turned up missing."

Julius was with her 15-year-old daughter on Nov. 24 when they were both shot in front of their Middlesex Street home by a man who is still on the loose.

Authorities aren't ruling out that that shooting and her disappearance are connected, said acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Julius was still recovering from very serious injuries when she disappeared. Authorities originally believed Julius' last stop in Monmouth County was at the Long Branch train station to head home that night, but Gramiccioni said that is no longer the case.

He said investigators now have information that she was last seen at the Fox-Chase housing development in Tinton Falls after 6 p.m.

"Since that date on March 8, both family members and all these members of law enforcement have been aggressively trying to find her, but so far we've been unsuccessful," Gramiccioni said. "Since then this has developed into a full on investigation for a missing person."

Linden woman shot last year, now missing

Julius is 5-foot-7, weighs 150 pounds, has brown eyes and a medium complexion. She was last seen wearing a black Columbia jacket, black sweatpants, black ankle-high boots and a black T-shirt with an orange glitter basketball design on the front. She has two small tattoos - one of a butterfly and one of a love symbol.

Teams of detectives have canvassed that Fox-Chase complex twice and were back out on Friday to again knock on residents' doors to ask if anyone had seen Julius.

"There's still many lingering questions surrounding her disappearance.  But I gotta tell you - we're all in agreement on this - someone out there knows something and we truly urge that person to please come forward and do the right thing," said John McCabe, acting chief of detectives for the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

Her family made an impassioned plea for anyone with information about Julius to contact authorities.

"Please, please, we're begging you. If you know where Tyrita is, please let us know, however it may be. Because not knowing is worst of all," said Claudia Scruggs of Rahway, the paternal grandmother of Julius' two children.

In the Nov. 24 shooting incident, Julius was in the car with her 15-year-old daughter outside their home when they were approached by a man they did not know, authorities said. After they exchanged some words, the man opened fire hitting Julius and her daughter several times.

Schulhafer said Julius sustained serious injuries and was still recovering when she went missing. She has scars on her chest and her abdomen from the shooting, investigators said.

Anyone with information about her disappearance is asked to call Monmouth County Prosecutor's Detective Brian Weisbrot at 1-800-533-7443 or Linden Detective Kenneth Mikolajczyk at 908-474-8542.

Those who want to remain anonymous can also contact either Monmouth County Crime Stoppers or Union County Crime Stoppers.  The two organizations are jointly offering up to a $15,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Julius. Information can go to Monmouth County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-671-4400 or text "MONMOUTH" and the tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or to the Union County Crime Stoppers at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or text "UCTIP" and the tip to 274637 (CRIMES).