Herman was last seen at his residence in the vicinity of the 1300 block of County Route 10 in Laurens, New York sometime between mid-October 2002 and the spring of 2003. He has never been heard from again. He was not reported missing until May 2005.

Herman is divorced and resided with his son, Matthew Arbas, at the time of his disappearance. They ran a dairy farm together. Matthew later told neighbors that Herman had become a truck driver, but police later found out that this was not true. Matthew ran the farm by himself for a time after his father's disappearance, but sold the last family herd in 2004.

Matthew was arrested and charged with kidnapping and assault in 2005; the arrest is related to the kidnapping of a Virginia Beach, Virginia. In September 2005, his wife, Catherine Arbas, Herman's daughter-in-law, was arrested on weapon and stolen property charges. Neither individual's charges are connected to Herman's case.

Authorities believe Herman disappeared under suspicious circumstances. They have searched his property three times but found no trace of him. Herman's relatives says he often went for long periods without contacting them. His case remains unsolved.