Herbert Joseph Zimmer Missing Person Case

Jan 27, 2026

Jan 27, 2026

Herbert

Joseph Zimmer

75

28

6'2 inches

185 lbs

White

Male

In the spring of 1979, a family's life was irrevocably changed by the sudden disappearance of Herbert Joseph Zimmer. A 28-year-old man, Herbert was last seen on April 14, 1979, in Buffalo, New York. The day he went missing, he had been involved in an argument with his wife before leaving their home. Since that day, there has been no contact from him, and his whereabouts remain a mystery. At the time he vanished, it is believed he may have been driving a Chevrolet Malibu from the late 1960s or early 1970s, a vehicle that has also never been found. Herbert, who was known to friends and family by the nickname "Buddy", was a Caucasian male with blond hair and hazel eyes. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing approximately 185 pounds, he had a distinct physical presence. While the exact clothing he was wearing on the day he disappeared is unknown, it is thought he may have had on corduroy pants or Levi's jeans, a flannel shirt, and a waist-length corduroy jacket that featured a fur collar. He was possibly wearing black work boots, similar to the safety boots worn by workers at Bethlehem Steel, and it is presumed he had his wallet with him when he left. The passage of time has offered few answers in the search for Herbert Joseph Zimmer. His case has seen little progress over the decades, leaving his loved ones in a state of prolonged uncertainty. A potential but unconfirmed development arose in 2017 with the publication of an obituary for a Herbert Joseph "Buddy" Zimmer, Jr., also from New York. Online discussions have pointed out a strong physical resemblance between the man in the obituary photograph and the missing Herbert. However, there has been no official confirmation that the deceased individual is the same person who vanished in 1979. This lack of certainty leaves the case open and the central questions unanswered. The overview of the case is one of an abrupt departure after a domestic dispute, followed by decades of silence, with the only potential lead being an unverified obituary that adds another layer of complexity to the enduring mystery of what happened to Herbert Joseph Zimmer.

Apr 14, 1979

Buffalo

New York

Buffalo

Erie County Sheriff's Office

716-858-7618

09/01/2026