Manassas City, Va. -- "This is a picture of Jerry when he was a baby," said his sister Jenny Beavers. "He weighed 10 pounds, 13 ounces."
Jerry Plaster was a big baby. The youngest of five children. The self-proclaimed "mama's boy," liked to clown around nd play tricks on his siblings when he was growing up.
"He liked laughing. He loved dancing," said Beavers.
A party boy who loved to have a good time, according to his sister Jenny.
"I loved him so much. My family, all of us, was very, very close. If it happened to one, it happened to all of us," she said tearfully.
What happened to 25-year-old Jerry Plaster is a mystery that has haunted the family for three decades, that's how long he's been missing.
Jenny Beavers said, "He went to the mall in Manassas with a friend of his, David Dellinger. And, Dellinger said that he dropped him off, and that Jerry told him that he would find a way home."
But Jerry never made the five mile trek back home from the Mall on that Saturday, April 17, 1988. Three days went by. His family wasn't too concerned about not seeing Jerry. They knew he liked to party.
Weeks later, worry set in. The hope of Jerry returning home was fading.
Relatives were calling David Dellinger constantly, asking him, "where was Jerry?" They felt his friend knew more about their loved one's whereabouts then he was letting on.
One month later, their suspicion pushed them to call the Manassas City Police.
"Investigators believe that he was suspect in the case and might have something to do with his disappearance," Senior Officer Charles Sharp said.
Detectives questioned Dellinger several times. You see, at the time there was no mall security footage to examine, no eye witnesses, just plain old gum shoe work.
Officer Sharp said, "He was evasive, and also, he was was the last person to have seen him alive which is also a pretty strong indicator that he may have been involved in his disappearance."
It may have been a strong indicator, but there was not enough evidence to charge David Dellinger in connection to the Plaster case.
Eventually, he would move out of state. Investigators released David Dellinger's name and important details to the public, feeling that someone out there might know something.
Detectives would continue to work the case for the next 30 years. It had become part of their DNA.
In September 2001, the Manassas City Police received some unexpected news.
"Investigators here at the police department were contacted by South Carolina Police Department with information that Mr. Dellinger had committed suicide," said Officer Sharp.
Detectives released an age progression poster on the 30th anniversary of Jerry Plaster's disappearance. It has not lead to any new leads or tips.
And as one year ends and another begins, Manassas City Police plan to keep the focus on finding Plaster.
They say it is possible that he may be alive. Investigators say there's no evidence to prove he's dead.
Officer Sharp said, "You know, they tell us we're not supposed to take our job personal, but sometimes, it's tough to not. When you see people in pain, you just want to help them."
And bring closure to the Plaster family so that they can begin to heal.
"As long as there's a bit of hope, I'm not going to let go," and emotional Jenny Beavers said.
The Manassas City Park Crime Solvers is offering a $1,000 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest in the case of Jerry DeWayne Plaster. You can call the 24-hour tip line at (703)-30-0330.
Or contact Detective Cindy van Noppen at (703)-257-8049 with the Manassas City Police Department.
