The Vanishing of Bryce Laspisa

The Start of an Ordinary Day

On August 29, 2013, Bryce Laspisa, a 19-year-old student at Sierra College in Rocklin, California, called his parents to let them know he’d be coming home to Laguna Niguel for the weekend. It was the start of what seemed like a normal trip.

But what unfolded over the next 24 hours has haunted his family — and true crime communities — ever since.

A Sudden Change

Bryce had just started his sophomore year. Friends later told police that in the days before his disappearance, he’d been acting strangely — staying up all night playing video games, giving away personal belongings, and drinking heavily.

On the afternoon of August 29, he told his girlfriend he wanted to break up. When she became concerned, she called his parents, who then spoke to Bryce. They noticed he sounded “off,” but he assured them he was fine.

The Long, Strange Drive

That evening, Bryce began the drive south toward his parents’ home — a trip of about 450 miles. But instead of making steady progress, he kept stopping.

At one point, he spent hours sitting in his car near a lake in Buttonwillow, California, telling his parents over the phone that he was “just thinking.” They urged him to keep driving.

The Last Known Sightings

At 1:30 a.m. on August 30, Bryce called his parents again to say he was on the way. By 5 a.m., his car had been found abandoned near Castaic Lake in Southern California — more than 300 miles from where his strange delays began.

The vehicle was on its side at the bottom of a small embankment. Inside were his wallet, phone, and keys. But there was no sign of Bryce.

The Search

Authorities launched a massive search around Castaic Lake, using helicopters, boats, and search dogs. The dogs tracked his scent to a nearby truck stop, but then the trail vanished.

Divers scoured the lake for days, but no body was found.

Theories

Over the years, several theories have emerged:

• Suicide — Some believe Bryce’s erratic behavior and giving away belongings point to suicidal intent.
• Voluntary Disappearance — Could he have decided to start a new life? With no financial resources, this would be difficult.
• Foul Play — Some suspect he may have encountered someone after the crash who harmed him.
• Mental Health Crisis — The sudden changes in his personality suggest the possibility of a mental breakdown or reaction to substances.

The Chilling Questions

The case remains open-ended and full of haunting mysteries:

• Why did Bryce spend hours idling in different locations?
• What did he mean when he told his mother, “I have a lot to talk to you about”?
• How did he vanish without a trace from a crash site in broad daylight?

A Family’s Hope

Bryce’s parents continue to search for answers. They maintain a Facebook page dedicated to finding him, hoping that someone, somewhere, will come forward with information.

His disappearance has been featured on true crime podcasts, YouTube channels, and TV shows — keeping his case alive in the public eye.

Why This Story Sticks

Like Maura Murray’s case, Bryce’s disappearance is a perfect storm of intrigue:

• A relatable young person
• Sudden, unexplained behavior changes
• A strange travel timeline
• A chillingly empty crash scene

It’s the type of mystery that leaves readers scrolling comment sections, trading theories, and hoping for a breakthrough.

Final Thoughts

It’s been over a decade since Bryce Laspisa vanished, yet the case remains as puzzling as ever. Was he running from something? Toward something? Or simply lost in a moment of crisis?

Until answers come, Bryce’s story will remain a haunting reminder of how quickly a life can disappear — and how some mysteries refuse to let go.