He Sat Beside the Highway for Hours. By Sunrise, Bryce Laspisa Was Gone

On August 29, 2013, 19-year-old Bryce Laspisa was driving through California on his way to his parents’ home in Laguna Niguel. He had left Northern California after spending time with his girlfriend and was making the long trip south.

Somewhere near Buttonwillow, west of Bakersfield, Bryce ran out of gas. A roadside assistance worker arrived with enough fuel to get him moving again. But instead of continuing his journey, Bryce stayed near the highway.

Hours passed, and he still hadn’t left.

He Had Gas but Wasn’t Going Anywhere

Bryce’s mother, Karen, became concerned when she learned he’d needed roadside assistance. She contacted the worker who had brought him gasoline and asked how her son seemed.

The man told her Bryce appeared to be all right, although he’d noticed that his eyes looked red. Karen asked him to check on Bryce again, hoping to understand why he wasn’t making progress.

When the worker returned, he found Bryce still in the Buttonwillow area. The young man had spent several hours sitting near the highway, despite having a functioning vehicle and enough fuel to get home.

The worker encouraged him to continue driving. Bryce apparently agreed, but as the afternoon turned into evening, he remained in the area.

Police Checked on Him That Evening

By approximately 9 p.m., Bryce’s family was worried enough to ask authorities to check on him. California Highway Patrol officers located his Toyota Highlander near Buttonwillow and spoke with him.

According to accounts of the encounter, Bryce was coherent and able to answer their questions. The officers found no immediate reason to detain him or prevent him from driving.

They also helped him contact his mother. Karen wanted to know why he’d been sitting near the highway for so long, but Bryce offered little explanation for his behavior.

Eventually, he continued south on Interstate 5. His parents hoped the strange delays were finally over.

Two Phone Calls After Midnight

Shortly before 2 a.m. on August 30, Bryce called his family again. He said he was traveling south and was approximately 90 minutes from home.

About 20 minutes later, he made another call. This time, he told his mother that he was tired and planned to pull off the freeway to get some sleep.

Nothing about the conversation suggested that he was in immediate danger. Karen later told reporters that she expected Bryce to rest for a while and finish the drive when he woke up.

His parents went to bed, thinking he might arrive later that morning.

The Highlander Was Found Near Castaic Lake

Around 5:30 a.m., someone discovered an overturned Toyota Highlander down an embankment near Castaic Lake, north of Los Angeles. The SUV had left an access road leading toward the lake’s main boat launch and come to rest on its side.

Investigators found the rear window shattered and a small amount of blood inside. Bryce’s wallet, cell phone, laptop, and other belongings were still in the vehicle, but there was no sign of him.

Cameras in the area showed that the Highlander hadn’t entered the lake access road until approximately 4:30 a.m. That meant more than two hours had passed since Bryce told his mother he was stopping to sleep.

At around eight that morning, Karen heard her doorbell ring and hurried to answer it. She thought Bryce might finally have arrived home. Instead, a California Highway Patrol officer was standing outside.

He had come to tell her about the wreck.

Search Teams Combed the Hills and Lake

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department launched an extensive search around Castaic Lake. Deputies, volunteers, helicopters, mounted teams, and search dogs examined the surrounding terrain, looking for anything that might reveal where Bryce had gone.

Divers searched the lake while ground teams worked through nearby canyons and thick brush. The area was difficult to cover, with steep slopes, rugged ground, and numerous places where someone could disappear from view.

Search dogs reportedly followed Bryce’s scent away from the vehicle and toward the lake. But the trail eventually ended without leading investigators to him.

Authorities considered the possibility that Bryce had survived the crash and wandered away injured or confused. The broken rear window suggested he might have been able to climb out, although nobody knew what condition he was in afterward.

Other roads and trails offered possible routes out of the area. Investigators had to consider whether Bryce had reached one of them before search teams arrived.

Another Discovery Raised New Fears

On September 4, a bicyclist noticed what appeared to be a brush fire several miles from Castaic Lake. When firefighters arrived, they discovered a badly burned human body.

Because Bryce had disappeared nearby, investigators initially couldn’t rule out a connection. The discovery brought renewed attention to the search as authorities worked to identify the remains.

On September 12, the Los Angeles County coroner confirmed that the body wasn’t Bryce’s. Investigators continued looking for him, while the separate death remained a different case.

During those weeks, relatives and volunteers helped search the area and circulated Bryce’s photograph. Reports of possible sightings also began arriving, raising hopes that someone might have encountered him after the crash.

The Search Began Winding Down

By September 18, nearly three weeks had passed since Bryce disappeared. Sheriff’s deputies had searched the lake, nearby hills, canyons, and surrounding roads without finding a confirmed trace of where he’d gone.

Authorities announced they were ending the large-scale field operation. Deputies would continue routine patrols and investigate new information, but the intensive search involving helicopters, divers, and large ground teams was coming to an end.

Bryce’s father, Michael, had been visiting Castaic Lake almost every day to help with the search.

Friends and relatives continued circulating Bryce’s photograph, hoping that someone beyond the search area might recognize him.