Bryce Laspisa. A late night drive, repeated police encounters, and a disappearance that still has no clear explanation

The Night Everything Changed

Nineteen year old Bryce Laspisa left college late one August night, telling his parents he was driving home to Southern California. Over the next twenty four hours, he was stopped by police, ran out of gas, remained in the same area for hours, spoke to his parents multiple times, and was located alive by authorities. Two days later, his car was found wrecked near Castaic Lake. Bryce was gone.

Who Was Bryce Laspisa

Bryce Laspisa was a 19 year old college student enrolled at Sierra College in Rocklin, California. Friends and family described him as intelligent, creative, and closely connected to his parents, Karen and Michael Laspisa. He had no criminal history and no known pattern of running away or cutting off contact.

In August 2013, Bryce was expected to drive south to Laguna Niguel to visit his parents. The trip should have taken roughly seven hours. Instead, it became the beginning of a disappearance that remains unresolved more than a decade later.

Leaving Sierra College

On the evening of August 28, 2013, Bryce left the Rocklin area and began driving south toward Southern California. Multiple credible sources place his departure shortly after 10 p.m.

He was driving his parents’ 2003 Toyota Highlander. In the weeks leading up to his disappearance, Bryce had experienced personal stress, including a recent breakup with his girlfriend. While this detail is frequently mentioned in reporting, there is no confirmed evidence that Bryce intended to disappear or harm himself.

A Drive That Did Not Progress

Instead of traveling steadily toward home, Bryce spent the night driving back and forth across Northern California.

During the early morning hours of August 29, Bryce was stopped by police in Weed, California, near the Oregon border. Officers found him alone in his vehicle. He told them he was driving south to visit family. He did not appear impaired or in distress, and no further action was taken.

After this encounter, Bryce resumed driving south. However, rather than continuing home, he eventually ended up near Buttonwillow in Kern County, far from where he should have been at that point in the trip.

Buttonwillow and Rising Concern

By the morning of August 29, Bryce had been on the road for more than ten hours with little progress toward his destination. He contacted his mother and told her he had run out of gas near a Buttonwillow rest area.

A roadside assistance worker delivered fuel around midday. According to later statements, Bryce appeared coherent and did not show obvious signs of distress.

Despite having fuel and the ability to continue driving, Bryce remained in the Buttonwillow area for several more hours. This behavior alarmed his parents, who remained in contact with him and began requesting welfare checks from authorities.

Contact With Law Enforcement

As concern grew, Bryce’s parents contacted law enforcement again on the evening of August 29.

At approximately 9 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers located Bryce’s vehicle on Lagoon Drive in Buttonwillow. Officers spoke with Bryce and contacted his parents directly.

Details of this interaction vary slightly between sources, but the consistent facts are clear. Bryce was located, he was alive, he appeared coherent, and he was not detained or transported for medical or psychological evaluation.

After speaking with Bryce, his parents agreed that he could continue driving.

The Last Phone Call

In the early morning hours of August 30, Bryce made what is widely considered his final confirmed phone call.

Between approximately 2:00 and 2:08 a.m., Bryce spoke with his mother. He told her he was too tired to continue driving and planned to pull over and sleep. He said he would call again when he woke up.

That call never came.

There have been no verified communications from Bryce after that point.

The SUV Near Castaic Lake

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on August 30, authorities located Bryce’s Toyota Highlander near Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County.

The vehicle was found on its side at the bottom of a ravine estimated at about 15 feet deep. Reporting also notes that the rear window of the SUV was shattered.

Bryce was not at the scene.

There were no confirmed witnesses who saw him leave the area, and no immediate evidence explaining where he went after the vehicle came to rest.

What Was Left Behind

Inside the vehicle were several of Bryce’s personal belongings. While exact item lists vary slightly depending on the source, reporting consistently states that important possessions were left in or with the SUV.

This detail has raised ongoing questions. If Bryce walked away intentionally, why leave behind items that could have helped him survive? If he was injured, why was there no confirmed physical evidence nearby?

No publicly reported blood evidence was found at the crash site, and no clear trail leading away from the vehicle was identified.

The Search Effort

Law enforcement launched an extensive search of the area surrounding Castaic Lake. The terrain was rugged, with steep slopes, brush, and multiple access points to the water.

Search efforts included ground teams, helicopters, K9 units, and dive teams. Divers searched the lake multiple times in the days and years following Bryce’s disappearance.

Despite the scale and intensity of the search, no confirmed trace of Bryce was ever found.

Theories and Unanswered Questions

Over the years, several theories have been discussed publicly, including accidental death, voluntary disappearance, and the possibility that Bryce left the area on foot.

None of these theories have been proven.

Key questions remain unanswered.

Why did Bryce remain in the Buttonwillow area for so long?

Why did he not continue home after multiple welfare checks?

How did he travel from Buttonwillow to the Castaic Lake area in the limited time between his last phone call and the discovery of his vehicle?

And if he survived the crash, where did he go without leaving confirmed evidence behind?

Missed Opportunities and Lasting Impact

One of the most discussed aspects of Bryce’s case is the number of interactions he had with law enforcement before he disappeared.

At multiple points, Bryce was located, spoken to, and allowed to continue driving. Officers reported that he appeared coherent and did not meet the criteria for involuntary detention.

There is no indication that procedures were violated. Still, the case raises broader questions about how warning signs are assessed when someone appears calm but behaves unpredictably.

Where the Case Stands Today

More than ten years later, Bryce Laspisa remains listed as a missing person.

His case continues to appear in national missing persons databases and remains active. His parents have continued to seek answers and advocate for renewed attention, hoping that new information could eventually emerge.

There have been no confirmed sightings, financial activity, or verified communication from Bryce since August 2013.

Why Bryce’s Case Still Matters

Bryce did not disappear without contact. He spoke to police. He spoke to his parents. He was located multiple times and given opportunities to make it home.

And yet, he vanished.

His case serves as a reminder of how quickly uncertainty can take hold and how even visible moments can still end in unanswered questions.

If You Know Something

Anyone with information about Bryce Laspisa or his movements in late August 2013 is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or local law enforcement.

Even the smallest detail could matter.

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