Security cameras caught him driving up a remote mountain road twice in the middle of the night. Hours later, his car was found wrecked at the bottom of an embankment. He was nowhere to be found.
A Bright Start
Bryce Laspisa, born in 1994, grew up in the Chicago suburbs before his family relocated to Laguna Niguel, California, following his 2012 high school graduation. He enrolled at Sierra College near Sacramento to study graphic and industrial design, formed a close friendship with his roommate Sean Dixon, and began dating fellow student Kim Sly. By all accounts, his first year of college went well.
A Troubling Shift
When Bryce returned to school in August 2013, friends began noticing he had become withdrawn, erratic, and seemingly depressed. He confided in Kim that he had started taking Vyvanse, a stimulant not prescribed to him, to help him stay awake during long stretches of gaming -- a use that concerned those around him given the medication's known side effects, which can include mood swings and, in some cases, psychosis. He had also begun drinking heavily.
Warning Signs
In the days before his disappearance, Bryce broke up with Kim by text, telling her she'd be "better off" without him, and sent Sean an unusually emotional message thanking him for saving his soul. He gave away his Xbox and a pair of earrings his mother had given him. Alarmed, Sean contacted Bryce's mother, Karen, to share his concerns.
The Final Drive
In the early morning hours of August 29, 2013, Bryce began an unplanned, hours-long drive south from Rocklin. He ran out of gas in Buttonwillow and received roadside assistance from a local resident named Christian, who checked on him again later and found him still parked in the same spot, prompting a call to Bryce's parents. Police, alerted separately, located Bryce and found him lucid and cooperative, assuring them he was heading home. Christian later confirmed seeing him back on the freeway.
The Last Call
At 2 a.m. on August 30, Bryce called his mother once more, telling her he was too tired to keep driving and planned to pull over to rest in the Sierra Pelona Mountains along Interstate 5. She agreed it was best for him to sleep. It was the last time she heard from him.
The Crash Site
Hours later, California Highway Patrol officers informed the Laspisa family that Bryce's car had been found wrecked roughly 25 feet down an embankment near Castaic Lake. Security footage showed him turning onto a remote access road around 2:15 a.m. His phone, laptop, and wallet were left inside the vehicle. There was no sign of Bryce. Police dogs traced his scent to a nearby truck stop, where the trail went cold.
Theories
Investigators and the family have considered several possibilities: that Bryce intended to disappear and start over, a theory some point to given he left his phone and wallet behind; that a substance-related crisis led him into the surrounding wilderness, where he may have died with his remains never found; or some other, undetermined outcome. Two later discoveries of remains in the area -- charred remains found days after his disappearance and a skull found in 2017 -- were both ruled out as belonging to Bryce.
Where the Case Stands
More than a decade later, Bryce Laspisa has never been found, and the case remains open. His parents have continued distributing missing person materials and say they have not given up hope.
FAQ
Has Bryce Laspisa ever been found?
No. He has never been located, and the case remains unsolved.
What was unusual about his behavior before he disappeared?
He became withdrawn and erratic, gave away personal belongings, and ended his relationship abruptly -- changes his friends connected to his recent substance use.
Did he leave anything behind in his car?
Yes. His phone, laptop, and wallet were all found inside the wrecked vehicle.