The Mysterious Disappearance of Bryce Laspisa: A Chilling Case in California

On the morning of August 30, 2013, the California Highway Patrol delivered devastating news to Michael and Karen Laspisa. Their 19-year-old son Bryce's car had been discovered wrecked after plunging off a 25-foot embankment near Castaic Lake, California. However, despite the wreckage, there was no sign of Bryce himself.

Earlier that morning, security cameras captured footage of Bryce driving up a remote mountain road toward Castaic Lake twice, but what happened next remains a mystery. Bryce Laspisa has never been seen again, leaving behind one of the most baffling and tragic missing person cases in recent memory.

A Call That Marked the Last Contact

In the early hours of August 30, 2013, Bryce Laspisa was making his way to his parents' home in Laguna Niguel, California. At around 2 a.m., he called his mother, telling her he had pulled off to the side of Interstate 5 in the Sierra Pelona Mountains to rest. Little did his parents know, that brief call would be the last time they’d ever hear from their son.

The journey, which should have taken three hours, stretched into a day filled with anxiety and anticipation. When the doorbell rang the next morning, the Laspisas hoped it was Bryce. Instead, they were met with heart-wrenching news — Bryce's car had been found abandoned, but there was no trace of him.

To this day, Bryce Laspisa has not been found. Here is the full story of his perplexing and tragic disappearance.

Bryce Laspisa’s Early Life: A Bright Beginning

Bryce Laspisa was born on April 30, 1994, in Springfield, Illinois, to Karen and Michael Laspisa. He was an only child and had a happy childhood filled with promise. Bryce quickly showed artistic talent and had a friendly, easygoing nature that helped him make friends effortlessly.

In 2012, Bryce graduated from Naperville Central High School in suburban Chicago. With his parents recently retired, the family relocated to Laguna Niguel, California. Shortly after the move, Bryce enrolled at Sierra College in Rocklin, just north of Sacramento, where he planned to study graphic and industrial design.

His first year at college went smoothly. He earned good grades, formed a close bond with his roommate Sean Dixon, and began dating fellow student Kim Sly. Over the summer, Bryce expressed excitement about returning to school, and by all accounts, his future seemed bright.

A Sudden Turn to Substance Abuse

“I’ve thought about every possible scenario about where he could be and what could’ve happened to him,”

Kim Sly reflected later about Bryce Laspisa's sudden disappearance.

When Bryce returned to school in August 2013, he initially appeared enthusiastic about the upcoming semester. He reconnected with friends, attended classes, and seemed his usual self. However, Sean and Kim soon noticed disturbing changes in his behavior. Bryce became increasingly withdrawn, erratic, and seemed deeply depressed.

Bryce confided in Kim that he had begun taking Vyvanse, a stimulant prescribed for ADHD, even though he did not have the condition. Vyvanse has known side effects, including mood swings, psychosis, and depression, which concerned those close to Bryce. To make matters worse, he also started drinking heavily, consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time.

Kim later revealed that Bryce told her he used Vyvanse to stay awake while playing video games, a habit that seemed to spiral out of control. Despite Kim's alarm, Bryce dismissed her concerns, leaving his loved ones uncertain about what was truly happening to him.

Unusual Behavior Leading Up to His Disappearance

Bryce's use of Vyvanse became more frequent as the fall semester began. His behavior became erratic, leading him to make several puzzling decisions. On August 27, he abruptly broke up with Kim via text message, stating that she would be

“better off without [him].”

Later that day, he sent Sean a deeply emotional text, saying, “I love you bro, seriously. You are the best person I’ve ever met. You saved my soul.” This unusual message was followed by a string of actions that alarmed his friends — he gave away his prized Xbox and handed over a pair of diamond earrings that his mother had gifted him.

Concerned for his friend, Sean contacted Bryce's mother, Karen, on August 28 to express his worries about Bryce's mental state. Bryce was at Kim’s apartment that night, and his behavior was so concerning that Kim took his car keys to prevent him from driving. Bryce called his mother to inform her of the argument, and Karen persuaded Kim to return the keys, encouraging Bryce to go home and rest.

When Karen offered to fly out to check on him, Bryce reassured her, saying,

“I have a lot to talk to you about,”

but insisted she wait until the next day.

A Strange, Long Drive Through the Night

By 1 a.m. on August 29, Bryce called his mother again. While she believed he was calling from his apartment, phone records later showed he was already far from Rocklin, heading south. His strange journey had begun.

At around 11 a.m. the same day, Karen and Michael were notified that Bryce had used roadside assistance in Buttonwillow, a small town off Interstate 5. He had run out of gas, and a local man named Christian had delivered three gallons of fuel to help him continue his trip.

However, when Christian checked back on Bryce hours later, he found him still parked in the same spot, seemingly unmoved. Concerned, Christian contacted Bryce’s parents, and after some discussion, Bryce agreed to head home. Christian watched as Bryce drove off at around 3 p.m.

Police Encounter and Bryce’s Disappearance

Despite Christian's intervention, hours passed without any word from Bryce. Frantic, his parents filed a missing persons report. Using phone tracking, officers located Bryce near where Christian had last seen him. When the officers approached, they found Bryce lucid, cooperative, and showing no signs of intoxication. He assured them he was fine and was simply heading home.

The police encouraged Bryce to contact his parents, and when he hesitated, they called Karen themselves. She urged him to drive home, but Bryce continued stalling. Despite this, Christian later confirmed to Karen that he had seen Bryce back on the freeway, driving toward his destination.

The Last Call and The Vanishing

At 2 a.m. on August 30, Bryce called his mother once more. This time, he told her that he was too tired to continue driving and planned to pull over to rest. Relieved, Karen agreed it was best for him to sleep, expecting to see her son by morning.

But when the doorbell rang hours later, it was not Bryce at the door. Instead, a California Highway Patrol officer informed the family that Bryce's car had been found near Castaic Lake. The car had crashed down an embankment, its rear window shattered, and Bryce’s phone, laptop, and wallet were left inside. There was no sign of Bryce.

Surveillance footage showed Bryce turning onto an access road at around 2:15 a.m., shortly after his call with his mother. His car was later found, but despite extensive searches of the lake and surrounding areas, no trace of Bryce has ever been discovered. Police dogs tracked his scent to a truck stop, where the trail went cold.

What Really Happened to Bryce Laspisa?

The Laspisa family continues to hope that Bryce is still alive, despite the lack of any solid clues.

On September 4, 2013, charred remains were discovered near Castaic Lake but were not identified as Bryce's. In 2017, a skull found off Templin Highway was also ruled out. Multiple leads have surfaced over the years, but none have led investigators to Bryce.

Several theories attempt to explain his disappearance. Some believe Bryce intended to start a new life, abandoning his old identity. His decision to leave behind his phone and wallet might support this. Others speculate that his substance abuse and possible withdrawal triggered a psychotic break or severe depression, leading him to make irrational decisions.

It’s also possible that Bryce died in the wilderness surrounding the lake, and his remains have yet to be found. But without any definitive evidence, the case remains open and unsolved.

For the Laspisa family, the pain of not knowing Bryce’s fate is unbearable. As Karen once said,

“I’ll never give up hope, but it’s really difficult. It’s gut-wrenching, every day not knowing. It’s a living nightmare.”

A Lingering Mystery

Bryce Laspisa’s disappearance remains one of California’s most puzzling missing persons cases. Despite extensive searches and widespread media attention, no answers have been found. His parents continue to distribute missing person posters and hold out hope that one day they will learn what truly happened to their son.