Middleton Man Still Missing After 5 Years

MIDDLETON (CBS) -- Five years ago, Maria Lima said goodbye to her son John before racing off to work. She didn't know then, it would be the last time she would see him. John, 26, disappeared from their Middleton home without a trace. Now, every time she sees a tall young man on the street, she thinks it might be John.

"I have to go close to see if it's him," she said.

On October 28, 2005, Lima heard her son drive up to their house about 2 a.m. She looked out the window, saw his car and went back to bed.  The next morning, his car, keys and wallet were all still there, but John was gone.

"I thought one day or one week I would find him, it's been five years."

The family admits John had a drug problem, but they say he was turning his life around.  Police believe he left the house through a window, perhaps to meet someone. 

The family didn't report John missing for two days. It was Halloween weekend and they thought he was with friends.

Unfortunately, they raked the yard and there was even a small snow storm, so by the time police got there with search dogs, any evidence was gone.

The family is offering a $30,000 reward for information in the case.

Sgt. Gayle Haley has been on the case since the beginning. She checks in with the Lima's once or twice a month. She believes someone out there knows something that could help.

"Definitely," said Haley.  "The information that somebody might have that they think isn't important could be the key to breaking this case."

John's sister Liz White has been busy raising her two children the past five years and running her gift shop. But her thoughts are never far from her baby brother.

"A day doesn't go by that we don't think about him," she said.  "We either grieve or we are hopeful.  It's just that up and down, it's an awful thing to go through."

The family is hoping and praying the reward will help them find John and end this suffering.  Maria Lima describes it as "hell."