Grieving Mother Finds "Closure" as Son's Remains Discovered After 9 Years

On November 1, 2025, Ninia Fernandez, the mother of John Paul Fernandez, shared on Facebook that DNA testing had confirmed the human remains discovered in 2024 belonged to her missing son. John Paul, a 23-year-old Seton Hall University student, had gone missing from his Middletown, New Jersey home on December 13, 2015.

Nearly nine years later, in November 2024, investigators from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and Middletown Police Department responded to reports of human remains found in the area of Willow Street in Middletown. Officials stated at the time that there did not appear to be anything suspicious about the discovery.

In her emotional Facebook post, Ninia Fernandez expressed the immense pain and grief her family has endured over the years, saying "there are no words to describe the pain and the countless tears we have cried for him -- every single day, for every year he was gone." However, she also found "peace" in finally being able to bring her son home.

Ninia shared fond memories of John Paul, describing him as a "gentle and giving" person who was "quirky, funny, and full of life." She thanked the authorities and community for their dedication and persistence in helping to solve the case and bring closure to the family.