What Happened to 17-Year-Old Craig Frear in Scotia, New York in 2004?

What Happened to 17-Year-Old Craig Frear in Scotia, New York in 2004?

New York State Police/Canva

21 Years Later: NYS Police Still Looking For Missing Upstate, NY Teen

June 27th, 2025 marked a somber anniversary.

The New York State Police shared on their social media accounts note that the date marked the 21 years since 17-year-old Craig Frear went missing.

Frear was last seen in Scotia, New York at the Cambridge Manor Apartments. The NYS Police write "Despite extensive interagency searches, Craig has never been found. " They add that they "continue their concentrated efforts to locate him and bring answers to his family."

What happened to Frear is still a mystery, however there are many theories online speculating what lead up to the events of his disappearance.

Popular Podcast Covers Craig Frear Missing Person Case in Scotia, NY

True Crime podcast are all the rage these days, while some of them are looking for clicks and listens, others seem to really be trying to help especially in missing person cases.

Ashley Flowers and The Crime Junkie podcast team are one of those podcast that gives tons of information in hopes someone may hear and help move the case along. In a spinoff podcast called The Deck, Ashley Flowers covers the Craig Frear case.

READ MORE: Popular True Crime Podcast Covers Death of Middletown Teen

In the episode they details to their huge listening audience and give a little more depth to the story. Flowers shares that  police learned that Frear had been keeping secrets.

Secrets such as losing his job at Price Chopper, and pretending to work there for weeks after he had been fired.

The Charly Project has also detailed Frear's case. They note that the teen had "no history of behavioral problems, and no known enemies." They add that the teen had been acting secretive before his disappearance and he did run away once before in his early teen years, but returned the next day.

Do You Know Where Craig Frear Is Or Have Details About His Disappearance?

The New York State Police urge anyone with information about Craig Frear's disappearance to come forward.

On Instagram the NYS Police write "Even the smallest detail could help." If you do have information about his whereabouts email Crimetip@troopers.ny.gov or call the NYS Police at 518-457-6811.

Craig is 5'11 and 190 pounds. He was last seen in a white short-sleeved shirt, blue jeans or jean shorts, with white Adidas sneakers with 3 black stripes, and a gold chain with a St. Christopher medal.

The teen has red hair, brown eyes and "has facial dimples and may have a goatee." It's also noted that all four of his wisdom teeth were removed two months before his disappearance.

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Gallery Credit: Yasmin Young

Have You Seen Them? 11 Kids Went Missing In New York State In February

The following list contains names and faces of 11 children reported missing in February 2025 across New York State. Do you have any information about them or have you seen them recently?

If so, please reach out to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; a private, non-profit 501 corporation whose mission is finding children, reducing child sexual exploitation, and preventing child victimization.
NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation.

If you'd like to report information about a missing child to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's 24-hour hotline at 800–THE–LOST (800–843–5678).

Gallery Credit: Brian Cody TSM Albany

Filed Under: Hudson Valley
Categories: Around the Hudson Valley, Articles

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