The other day I posted my belief that Bryce, after crashing the vehicle, saw all the LE vehicles parked for their training exersize, and fled, possibly trying to swim to shore. ( Any shoreline away from LE activity.) The more I've thought of this, the more convinced I am that this is what happened. I don't know why I hadn't thought of that when it was learned LE was having a training exersize right there! RDW also posted similar, more articulate thoughts that I totally agree with. I don't think drugs had any part in what happened to Bryce at least at the time of the crash. I don't believe Bryce had a mental illness or pyschotic break either, or is wandering around in some fugue state, or hiding intentionally either.
Here are my reasons on what I think happened to Bryce and why.
1. Bryce and his family had only lived in California about a year.
2. Bryce had not ever lived on his own, as far as I know, and to me, seemed to be very close to his family, as well as dependant. I get the feeling Bryce was somewhat sheltered. Now Bryce is living in a new state, miles from his parents, and had never made the drive from his dorm to his parents house on his own.
3.Bryce ran out of gas, and after Christian brought him some gas, Christian goes back to where he had encountered Bryce at the request of Bryce's mom. I'm sure Bryce was surprised and maybe not real pleased about that.
4. When Bryce was in Buttonwillow, LE responds to missing persons report, locates Bryce pinging phone, and at the request of mom, checks Bryce out, as well as the vehicle, to see whether there were any signs of drugs or drug usage by Bryce. He also was asked to speak to his mom on the phone while LE is present. No drug usage detected or found in vehicle by LE. I don't think Bryce anticipated this, and was probably feeling he was being tracked, which in turn frustrated him more than he may have been before, to say the least.
5. Bryce crashes the vehicle accidently, and more than likely, saw the line of LE vehicles right there. Now, just imagine what Bryce must have thought then? It must have seemed to Bryce as if he'd entered the twilight zone or something! I mean, he must have thought his every move was being tracked by then, so that is why he leaves the cell phone, laptop, etc. At this point, Bryce is probably thinking he's in huge trouble. So, what does one do now? I think Bryce panicked, understandably so, and fled the scene of the crashed vehicle, and LE activity.
I think Bryce fled either by trying to swim away to another part of the shore away from LE activity,if that was an option, so that dogs wouldn't be able to follow his scent. BTW, I can't remember right now, but when LE located Bryce earlier, and checked him and the vehicle for signs of drugs and/or drug use, did they have a drug detecting dog with them?
If this is what happened, Bryce either did or didn't make it to shore, and something happened to him in the lake, or in the area surrounding the lake. If Bryce didn't go into the lake, he could have fled on foot away from any and all LE activity, as well as human activity. For instance, Bryce may have wanted to avoid anyone in the immediate vicinity, thinking that LE would be canvassing the area looking for him, and not wanting to take a chance that anyone had spotted him. Bryce likely fled into the wooded area, and since we don't know what if any significant injuries he may have sustained, succumbed to injuries that resulted from the crash. If Bryce had no significant injuries, he may have fled into the wooded areas around the lake, but away from LE and human activity, found somewhere to hide and wait things out until he felt he could safely leave the area, perhaps getting lost and disoriented from everything, may have injured himself while doing so, and either succumbed to injuries and/or the elements.
Two theories I've thought of but personally discount are Bryce still alive but in hiding and suicide.
The last theory I have thought about is Bryce managed to get out of the immediate area withoout being seen, and encountering foul play. I think this theory is not very likely, but it is possible.
In my opinion Bryce is no longer alive, and is either in the lake or in the wooded areas around the lake. To me this case is about an unfortunate chain of events no one could have forseen, made worse by bad choices, which sadly culminated in Bryce's death.
*Now, for the record, I am not bashing Bryce's family or Bryce. I also don't think anyone should have to fear giving their opinions and theories in any given case out of fear of political correctness, or being accused of 'bashing' the victim and/or family members and loved ones. This is a general statement, and not directed toward anyone in particular, but I have noticed that at times in some of the cases here, and no doubt elsewhere, which naturally have people with differing opinions, sometimes things are taken the wrong way and for the wrong reasons. And I wish I didn't feel the need to write this last paragraph, <Sigh>.*
I pray Bryce will be found soon, and his family have the answers they so desperately need.
