Bryce David Laspisa
Key facts
Full name: Bryce David Laspisa
Born: April 30, 1994 – Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Missing since: August 30, 2013 (age 19)
Last seen: Castaic Lake, Los Angeles County, California
Physical traits: 5′11″, ≈170 lbs, red hair, blue eyes, tattoo of Taurus bull on left shoulder
Investigating agency: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (323-890-5500)
https://charleyproject.org/case/bryce-david-laspisa
Bryce David Laspisa is an American college student who vanished under mysterious circumstances in late August 2013 near Castaic Lake, California. His disappearance, marked by an overturned SUV and no trace of his body, remains one of Southern California’s most perplexing missing-person cases.
Background
Laspisa grew up in Illinois before moving with his parents, Karen and Michael Laspisa, to Laguna Niguel, California. An artistic and outgoing student, he was studying graphic and industrial design at Sierra College in Rocklin. Friends later noted a sudden behavioral shift: increased alcohol use, recreational consumption of the stimulant Vyvanse, and emotional withdrawal.
Disappearance
On August 28–29, 2013, Bryce left Northern California intending to drive home to Orange County. Over roughly 24 hours he displayed erratic behavior—lingering for hours in Buttonwillow, California, despite contact with roadside assistance and police who found him lucid. After midnight on August 30, he phoned his mother, saying he was too tired to continue. Hours later, his beige 2003 Toyota Highlander was discovered overturned near the Castaic Lake main ramp, its rear window broken from inside. His wallet, phone, and laptop remained in the car; Bryce was gone .
Search and investigation
Authorities conducted extensive ground, air, and dive searches around Castaic Lake, assisted by scent-tracking dogs and volunteers. The dogs reportedly traced Bryce’s scent across a nearby dam to a truck-stop area before it vanished. Despite tips and unconfirmed Oregon sightings later that fall, no verified evidence has emerged .
Theories and ongoing status
Speculation includes accidental death following a head injury, suicide, voluntary disappearance, or foul play. No physical remains or definitive clues have ever been found. As of 2024, Bryce Laspisa remains listed as an endangered missing person, and his family continues to appeal for information.
