The case of the vanished Ditmas Park cafe owner has been transferred to the NYPD’s “Missing Persons” division, a sign that cops no longer believe that the disappearance is a criminal matter, The Brooklyn Paper has learned.
Josh Rubin, the owner of the now-shuttered Whisk Cafe on Newkirk Avenue, went missing on Oct. 31 under mental and financial pressure — and police have no evidence that he is alive.
A NYPD representative said that, among other things, the re-assignment of the case to the “Missing Persons” squad could mean that the trail has “gone cold.”
“A lot of grown-ups decide they want to disappear for a little bit,” said Dr. Maria Haberfeld, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. “From the standpoint of the local police … it’s not necessarily a major priority.”
Rubin’s family hired private investigator Eric Lopez on Nov. 4, to assist police in the search for their kin — but Lopez’s searches of shelters, hotels and even Occupy Wall Street protests have been fruitless thus far, as well.
Lopez said that he got an anonymous tip last week that Rubin may be in Coney Island, and has been concentrating his efforts there.
Rubin, a diabetic who needs to take insulin regularly, has not been heard from since he left his apartment on Halloween night.
The family has put up a $5,000 reward for Rubin — and continues to hope.
“We created enough interest in Josh to get him listed as a ‘priority case,’ ” said Jon on the “Find Josh Rubin” Facebook page.
Anyone with information about Josh Rubin should contact the 70th Precinct at (718) 851-5560 or the Missing Persons Squad at (212) 694-7781.
Reach reporter Eli Rosenberg at erosenberg@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2531. And follow his Tweets at @from_where_isit.
