Sarah Stern, 19, has been missing since her car was found on the Route 35 bridge in Belmar early Saturday
BELMAR -- Family members of the missing 19-year-old Neptune City woman missing nearly a week since her car was found unoccupied on a Belmar bridge are organizing a search party for Saturday in coastal towns in Monmouth County.
Sarah Stern's car was discovered unoccupied on Saturday on the Route 35 bridge not far from her home.
The search effort, organized by Sarah Stern's cousins, will cover areas from Manasquan to Long Branch, and will include the area surrounding the Shark River, Stern's father, Michael, told NJ Advance Media.
"I'm at my wits' end," Michael Stern said. "Every day that goes by, the feeling inside gets worse and worse."
After police discovered the vehicle, a 1994 silver four-door Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight owned by her grandmother, around 2:45 a.m. Saturday a search that included local and county authorities, New Jersey State Police and U.S. Coast Guard encompassed the Shark River. The search was suspended around 3 p.m. Saturday and did not start again on Sunday.
Monmouth County Crime Stoppers is offering $5,000 for information on the disappearance of 19-year-old Sarah Stern of Neptune City. On Sunday, detectives with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office joined the investigation, and the Monmouth County Crime Stoppers organization has offered a $5,000 reward for anyone who has information that leads to the "identification, arrest and prosecution of any suspect(s) in the disappearance" of Stern.
"We are asking everyone to keep an eye out for this young woman, and report any possible sightings as soon as possible," Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said in a statement.
Michael Stern said since news of Sarah's disappearance has spread across social media and news outlets, more leads have come in, to no avail.
"The family has deep roots. Everyone knew Sarah," he said. "That's why we just find this all disheartening. ... None of this makes any sense."
The prosecutor's office said all possible scenarios are being explored.
When her vehicle was found, no one was in the area, and the car was towed by the Neptune Township Police Department. The car was found operational, and the keys were in the vehicle, the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor's office asked that anyone with information contact Detective Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 732-431-7160 or Belmar police Detective John Mahoney at 732-681-1700.
Anyone who would like to remain anonymous but has information can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line at 1-800-671-4400; can text "MONMOUTH" plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website atwww.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com.
More information on Saturday's search party will be provided when it's available.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.