Missing Woman's Purse, Car Found; Investigation Continues

The search for TCNJ student and Hillsborough resident Paige Aiello continues, Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano said Thursday morning, as reports say her purse and the vehicle she was driving have been found.

Aiello was last seen by her father at about 1 p.m. on Tuesday, according Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano in a press release issued Thursday afternoon. He said Aiello's mother reported noticing the family's grey 2006 Audi A4 had been taken by Aiello at about 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The parents attempted to contact her, but calls to her cellphone were unanswered. Aiello's father reported her missing at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, shortly before her parents received notification someone had found Aiello's purse, with her cell phone and car keys, on the south walkway of the upper level of the George Washington Bridge, Soriano said.

The Aiellos contacted Hillsborough police, who followed up with notification of the missing persons report and the discovery of the purse to New York City police and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials. New York investigators conducted a search of the bridge, and the Hudson River area near the bridge at 11:24 p.m., with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, New York Police Department Patrol and Aviation Units, he added.

The missing Audi was found in the Gateway parking garage located on Somerset Street in New Brunswick at 10:19 p.m. Wednesday, by New Brunswick police. The vehicle was transported to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Forensic Laboratory for examination, and detectives have contacted New Jersey Transit Police to assist in the investigation due to the proximity of the deck to the train station, Soriano said.

Prosecutor Soriano, SCPO Chief of Detectives Stuart Buckman and Hillsborough Police Chief Paul Kaminsky ask anyone having information about Paige Aiello’s whereabouts to contact the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-575-3300, Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS(8477) or online atwww.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers”or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All calls are confidential.