Marine Corps veteran Lance James was last seen Dec. 2 in Clementon.
CLEMENTON -- On a rainy Christmas Eve morning, family and friends launched a new search for a U.S. Marine Corps veteran missing for three weeks.
Lance James, 29, was last seen Dec. 2 when he was escorted out of the Hide-A-Way Tavern in Clementon following a fight with a bar patron. Clementon Police suggested he head home.
Lance James, 29, in this U.S. Marine Corps photo. James has been missing since Dec. 2, 2016 and family are offering a reward for information on his whereabouts. James, who doesn't own a vehicle, walked home toward his residence near Clementon Park and hasn't been seen since. He left his jacket and cellphone at the bar.
A reward for information on his whereabouts has grown to $5,000, his family announced Friday.
State Police led a large-scale search of the area earlier this week but found nothing. That effort included a search of three lakes for clues.
Community members were invited to join the Saturday morning search, which began at Clementon Park. Rescue dogs and drones will be used, according to James' sister, Jessica Hassan.
James, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the military in 2012, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, his family said.
He is the father of a 5-year-old girl who lives with her mother.
James is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 180 pounds, with brown hair, a red-brown beard and several tattoos.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000 ext. 2554.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.