Not forgotten

Tomorrow marks the six-month anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of Richard Petrone Jr. and Danielle Imbo.

Petrone’s friends and family have organized a candlelight vigil for him at 9 p.m. tomorrow night outside Abilene restaurant and bar, 429 South St.

Petrone, 35, from the 1600 block of Snyder Avenue, and Imbo, of Mount Laurel, N.J., 34 at the time of her disappearance, were last seen leaving Abilene around 11:30 p.m. Feb. 19, police said.

For those who know the couple, life goes on as best it can.

"To me, one day is no worse than the other. They are all horrible," said Richard Petrone Sr., of Cherry Hill, N.J.

His wife, Marge, is having a difficult time dealing with her only son’s disappearance, said Petrone Sr.

The couple has two daughters, Alisa and Christine. Petrone Jr.’s teenage daughter lives in South Philly with her mother.

Family and friends of the missing man wanted to do something to commemorate the half-year anniversary, said Petrone’s cousin Donna Valente, who has organized several search parties for her missing relative and a Mass this past spring.

Since Feb. 19, there has been no sign of Petrone or Imbo.

Petrone was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. He is 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Imbo was last wearing a cream-colored sweater, black jacket and jeans. She is 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 117 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes.

The couple was traveling in Petrone’s black 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck with a Pennsylvania license plate of YFH 2319. There was a "#99 NASCAR" sticker on the rear windshield.

Police continue to investigate, but have no new leads, said Sgt. Tim Cooney of South Detective Division. Investigators have not ruled out an automobile accident as the cause of the disappearance, said Cooney.

But Petrone Sr. doesn’t buy that theory.

"We’ve searched every possible route from Philadelphia to Mount Laurel and there’s just no place for a truck that size to physically disappear," he said. Even if his son’s truck had broken through a guardrail on a local bridge and landed in the river, there would have been evidence of an accident on the bridge, he said.

Petrone Sr. said he doesn’t know what happened to his son, but he is sure his boy would never willfully leave.

"My best guess is that in a very methodical and organized way, somebody snatched them," Petrone Sr. said.

The missing man’s father also said he’s satisfied with the effort law enforcement has put into the case. New Jersey State Police and Mount Laurel Police are augmenting the South Detectives’ probe. The FBI has also assisted. The Citizens Crime Commission of Delaware Valley has posted a $100,000 reward for information leading to the couple’s recovery.

"We are manning the phones waiting for that call that would bring some type of closure to this case," said Santo Montecalvo, crime commission vice president. "If someone – anyone – has any information, just call us and you will remain anonymous."

Petrone Sr. said he doesn’t think there is any such thing as closure for him or his family. But finding out what happened to his son and bringing whoever is responsible to justice would make things a little easier.

Aug. 29, Petrone’s family has organized a private Mass to celebrate his birthday that day.

In acknowledging Imbo’s birthday two weeks ago, friends named a star after her through the National Star Registry. Tuesday, a 7 p.m. Mass of Hope will be celebrated for Imbo at Assumption Church, 318 Carl Hasselhan Drive, Atco, N.J.

Anyone interested in attending Petrone’s vigil tomorrow night, which is open to the public, should bring a candle and meet outside Abilene.