Found Deceased CA - Blaze Bernstein, 19, Lake Forest, 2 Jan 2018 #2

[DizzyB]

I don't know many 19 year olds that would call the family of a "buddy" at 6 am to let them know their kid may or may not have disappeared. They may have just been doing a classmate a favor, and ended up in the middle of this. Snapchat groups can be big, and Blaze may have put it out there that he needed a ride. The school buddy may have offered for whatever reason, and really didn't know Blaze all that well. People text each other addresses all the time, to use for GoogleMaps or Waze-it just makes it easier when driving. Many of these kids were away at school, back for break-they may not drive that much.

 

[TTF14]

Here's another thing that has me baffled- his mother said his glasses were left behind. His father said that Blaze might have been wearing his contact lenses when he went out. As someone who has worn them in the past, I know from experience, you have to take them out to either dispose of them if you have the disposable kind, or clean them nightly if you have the daily use kind.

Did the parents check to see if he took his contact lense case with him? Did they at least check the case to see if they were still in there, or did he grab a pack of disposable lenses and take them with him? He would have to take them out eventually, especially after all this time. That's what makes me think he didn't run away. If he can't see well enough without correction, why would he run off into the dark woods alone at night without being able to see?

I would guess this issue has been resolved by now, as much as it can be. If the lenses weren't in the case, they were either in his eyes, or he had thrown them away (and they'd be very difficult to find, then.). My guess is they were still in his eyes and he had not yet removed them for the night.

 

[Cherry]

We have very strict rules at Websleuths for a reason.

First, you DO NOT POST A HUGE NAKED BEHIND ON WEBSLEUTHS SUGGESTING IT IS THE MISSING PERSON.

Craig's List IS NOT ALLOWED on Websleuths.

Guess what happens now? What if Blaze is alive? I hope to God he is but now he has to come home to random people on the Internet posting that his butt was on Craig's List looking for casual hookups. How would you like that if this was you or your son?

Let's say by some wild chance it is Blaze. Guess what you do then? YOU TURN IT OVER TO THE POLICE.

You do not post it on Websleuths.

Again, Craig's List is not a mainstream media or law enforcement source. You must get permission from the owner to post anything from Craig's list.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU NEVER POST A PICTURE LIKE THAT ON WEBSLEUTHS



NEVER EVER.


Someone has turned it over to the police and that's where it stands.

Until it is reported that this is indeed Blaze it is not up for discussion.

Yes, I am really upset.

Tricia

I was so upset when I saw that last night. TY for locking that down! I was beside myself w horror!

 

[DakotaMayi]

:wagon: to all the new sleuths here. I love to see so many new members join for the missing.

Also, I'm just reposted this awesome post from Voice4thesilent. It's a little (well, big) update for any new that is joining (or sleuths who are not new, like me, who just can't keep up with this fast moving thread )

Glad to see you here, Gitana1. Have been waiting for you.

Not sure if I am the best to give you a bullet point summary but here is some info:

BB spent the night cooking dinner with his family and grandparents. Parents drove younger sibling to a friends house (unknown time, after dinner.)

Around 9:30pm BB sent an old High School Buddy (parents have been vague on said "buddy's" sex, the word "he" has been used however by some reporters which could be either incorrect reporting or fact. Some people think that the overly vague language chosen by parents and family spokesperson is odd, other's do not) messages on SnapChat and/or text asking "buddy" to pick him up. Sent "buddy" his address to get him.

Buddy picked him up at 10:30pm and took him to the park which was a 5 minute drive (about a mile away) from his home.

Buddy either last saw BB at 10:30, 11:00 or 11:30pm at the trailhead to the hiking path that leads to Whiting Ranch while buddy was either in their car or near the restroom at the park (times and place Buddy was when BB was last seen are inconsistencies in reporting.)

Buddy stated that BB was meeting with another person whom Buddy didn’t know and didn’t know the nature of the meeting.

In one article posted on Saturday, Buddy was reported as stating that BB was "upset" when he was at the park. This detail has not been reported since.

When BB didn’t return, Buddy sent him numerous text messages that BB didn’t respond to.

Buddy left the park.

Buddy said he returned to the park at 4:00am to look for BB.

Buddy didn’t contact police or BB’s parents about BB walking off.

At 11:30pm BB (or someone with his phone) sent a text message to a female friend that was concerning and leads his parents to believe foul play was involved. Text message content has not been released to the public. The phone stopped working at that point and could no longer be tracked.

LE states that Buddy isn’t a person of interest or a suspect and is cooperating. Parents have stated that they didn’t know who “buddy” was but that “buddy” is cooperating and isn’t a suspect.

Parents and LE do not know who the 3rd person is that BB was supposedly meeting at the park.

BB’s parents didn’t immediately know BB wasn’t home when they got up the following morning; they assumes BB was sleeping in.

When they noticed BB wasn’t home they assumed he would show up for dental appointment he was supposed to go to with mom later in the day.

When BB didn’t show up at the dentist suspicions arose and LE was contacted.

It has not been released if BB “snuck out” (for lack of better words) that night or if BB’s parents were simply asleep and so he didn’t want to wake them up and tell them he was leaving.

Unknown if BB locked the door behind him when he left.

BB’s parents located “Buddy” based on BB’s online Snapchat activity, though it has been reported that they are unable to retrieve messages due to the nature of the app. Parents are also having a hard time getting social media messages because BB is 19 years old.

BB’s parents state that he left without his glasses (though he could have been wearing his contacts), wallet, keys and medication that he needs daily to function. Said he was a planner and would have taken his glasses and other items if he intended to be gone overnight or for an extended time.

BB had scheduled activities he was looking forward to in the days preceding him returning to college.

According to his parents, BB was excited for the upcoming school year in a new apartment. Was in good spirits and spent his time in the days preceding his disappearance purchasing items for school.

BB was using a borrowed phone from a family friend. There is conflicting reports about whether or not the phone was activated to receive phone calls. Some people are interpreting the wording in SM articles as that the phone only received text and not calls. Others read it was the phone was receiving phone calls but since the last text sent at 11:30pm that night hasn’t been working or receiving calls.

Numerous high tech drones are being used to photograph the area to be looked over for clues.

Numerous searches with dozens of LE have taken place in and around the park and Whiting Ranch areas. Nothing has been found.

Cadaver dogs and search dogs have been used. No scent was found.

Several people reported that someone fitting BB’s description was seen walking along disabled car lane of the Southbound 241 freeway (around the Bake Pkwy area) the morning after around 5:40am. Didn’t seem disoriented and seemed to be walking with a purpose.

BB had a “no tolerance” policy in regards to drugs and alcohol, according to his parents.

BB was supposed to return to school yesterday.

Unknown if BB had a driver’s license or access to a car at his parent’s house.

Unknown what needed medication was for.

Others, please jump in and correct any info if I got it wrong and add whatever I missed. I can update as more information is added and add links for the information above.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Why would the male high school buddy need to pick him up if Blaze lived a 10 minute walk to the park? And why didn't the friend assume Blaze walked home afterwards, seems odd that he would return at 4:00 a.m. to look for him again.

 

[Rotten apple]

parents and police probably already know if he ran away or was abducted ( was he ever in park?)
they know his ongoing medical psychological problems
they know he was looking for hook ups
he left the house with nothing
is he wandering alleys dirty and confused or ambushed and being held prisoner?
everyone will be aware he's missing, picture everywhere
heartbreaking..

Sorry I may have missed it but do we know he had ongoing psych problems? I recall that the med issue was related to lupus, I'd have to dig for the link.

 

[DakotaMayi]

Why would the male high school buddy need to pick him up if Blaze lived a 10 minute walk to the park? And why didn't the friend assume maybe Blaze walked home, seems odd that he would return at 4:00 a.m. to find him.

BBM.

I'm gonna go with guilt or clean up/return to the scene of the crime. That's jmo though.

 

[GlowingShadow]

Sorry I may have missed it but do we know he had ongoing psych problems? I recall that the med issue was related to lupus, I'd have to dig for the link.

There is nothing released to the public about Blaze's possible health problems and his medications. The Lupus thing is just a rumor someone started on a social media group. It wasn't confirmed by family or LE. All what is known is that he took daily medication.

 

[Steelslady]

I would guess this issue has been resolved by now, as much as it can be. If the lenses weren't in the case, they were either in his eyes, or he had thrown them away (and they'd be very difficult to find, then.). My guess is they were still in his eyes and he had not yet removed them for the night.

The reason that I brought it up is because if he took some disposable lenses with him, then to me, that would indicate he was planning to be away for a day or two or so. If he didn't put his lenses in or take a spare pair, to me, that sounds like he didn't leave on his own. For some of us, life without glasses could be awful dangerous, trust me, lol.

 

[DakotaMayi]

Why would the male high school buddy need to pick him up if Blaze lived a 10 minute walk to the park? And why didn't the friend assume Blaze walked home afterwards, seems odd that he would return at 4:00 a.m. to look for him again.

Sorry JerseryGirl, quoting you again.

But someone said earlier (in the first thread, I think) that maybe he didn't go back to look for him, but rather, that was the excuse given for why he was there/phone pings etc. Maybe he was there for something untoward. And maybe, that's not where Blaze asked him to take him at all. It appears he could have just walked there. Especially if he was going to just walk off without his friend anyway.

I feel the park has some significance, but maybe it wasn't Blaze's desired destination.

I don't trust this friend. :thinking:

 

[JerseyGirl]

BBM.

I'm gonna go with guilt or clean up/return to the scene of the crime. That's jmo though.

I can see the return, but why did Blaze need a ride to the park to begin with when he could have easily walked to it within 10 minutes?

 

[DakotaMayi]

I can see the return, but why did Blaze need a ride to the park to begin with when he could have easily walked to it within 10 minutes?

I'm just not sure that was Blaze's intended destination. The park might just be an excuse the friend has given to either divert attention or to explain why Blaze might be found there. But considering there was no scent. It seems as if Blaze was never there to begin with.

 

[Tenuki]

Why would the male high school buddy need to pick him up if Blaze lived a 10 minute walk to the park? And why didn't the friend assume Blaze walked home afterwards, seems odd that he would return at 4:00 a.m. to look for him again.

Sorry to just interject, but I wanted to speak as someone who lives in a semi residential/ semi rural area. I have lived about a 20 minute walk from the nearest town on a regional road that does that does not have many street lights but that is fairly populated with houses. I still would never have walked the 15 minutes it would take to get to the park that is right before the town after dark because a) not much light b) the speed limit of the road is pretty high ( 80 km/ h or ~50 mph). Definitely was not much crime in the community, so that is not the main reason I wouldn't walk it. It was just not safe due to the lack of infrastructure for pedestrians after dark.
I guess I just wanted to ask if anyone knows wether the area is safe to be walking around after dark (I am assuming that by 10:30 pm it is dark in Cali in winter) in the area between BB's house and the park? It could be a simple explanation as to why he needed a ride...or not!

 

[ajp01]

JMO but from reading more into it I don't think the HS buddy was actually a "HS" buddy and more of a new acquaintance. Just speaking from my experience and most of the people around me, most long term/HS friends would know my address and would not need to be text the details.

I think the buddy (male or female) was a hookup that BB and the "buddy" arranged and either was planned to take place on Whiting Rance(red herring?) or some other place. But actually the new hookup had something more sinister in mind.

Either way I hope BB is out there safe and sound and is found ASAP

 

[Jonesjones]

I can see the return, but why did Blaze need a ride to the park to begin with when he could have easily walked to it within 10 minutes?

Other posters that live in the area have stated it’s more like a 20+ minute walk there and a bit longer back because the walk home is all uphill. However, I also feel that if he were going to do self-harm, he would have just walked. That’s just MO.

 

[dalsglen]

*This is in reply to someone who asked about "text-girl", which I assumed is the female who received the last text from Blaze's phone.

It's my strong personal opinion, that the female friend who received the strange text from Blaze that made LE think there was foul play involved, was his "best friend" at Penn who helps run the HUFBB page. I don't believe she's in CA, but PA. Someone else mentioned this same theory on the original thread. I just believe this from the info we have so far. I think she got a weird text, and maybe didn't do anything with it (probably not understanding it) but then when it comes out that he's missing, she realizes it's relevant, and calls the parents or LE in CA, and tells them about the text she received that night (the last confirmed text before his phone shuts off). JMO, but I've thought this from the beginning. :/

Well that made me ponder...
Pa is 3 hours ahead of ca?! So if it was a friend at penn who received the odd text then it was received their end at 2.30am, presumably when they would be sleeping. The 4am return to the park would be 7am in pa... a normal time to wake up and see a strange text. Hmm im not sure of my point lol

 

[Cherry]

Here's another thing that has me baffled- his mother said his glasses were left behind. His father said that Blaze might have been wearing his contact lenses when he went out. As someone who has worn them in the past, I know from experience, you have to take them out to either dispose of them if you have the disposable kind, or clean them nightly if you have the daily use kind.

Did the parents check to see if he took his contact lense case with him? Did they at least check the case to see if they were still in there, or did he grab a pack of disposable lenses and take them with him? He would have to take them out eventually, especially after all this time. That's what makes me think he didn't run away. If he can't see well enough without correction, why would he run off into the dark woods alone at night without being able to see?

I have thought about his contact lens case too, I have worn them for 40 yrs. I also have wondered if he knows someone wealthy who would take him in. I hope for that actually.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Well that made me ponder...
Pa is 3 hours ahead of ca?! So if it was a friend at penn who received the odd text then it was received their end at 2.30am, presumably when they would be sleeping. The 4am return to the park would be 7am in pa... a normal time to wake up and see a strange text. Hmm im not sure of my point lol

Are you sure that the Penn student is from Pennsylvania, because I believe the dorms are closed during winter break so the other person would have been at their home. Of course, they could have an off-campus apartment, but just throwing it out there not to assume the girl he texted was in Pennsylvania at the time.

 

[DakotaMayi]

Sorry to just interject, but I wanted to speak as someone who lives in a semi residential/ semi rural area. I have lived about a 20 minute walk from the nearest town on a regional road that does that does not have many street lights but that is fairly populated with houses. I still would never have walked the 15 minutes it would take to get to the park that is right before the town after dark because a) not much light b) the speed limit of the road is pretty high ( 80 km/ h or ~50 mph). Definitely was not much crime in the community, so that is not the main reason I wouldn't walk it. It was just not safe due to the lack of infrastructure for pedestrians after dark.
I guess I just wanted to ask if anyone knows wether the area is safe to be walking around after dark (I am assuming that by 10:30 pm it is dark in Cali in winter) in the area between BB's house and the park? It could be a simple explanation as to why he needed a ride...or not!

Do we know the location of Blaze's home? I'm not familiar with the area either. I have friends in SoCal but not this side. Is it remote?

 

[DakotaMayi]

Well that made me ponder...
Pa is 3 hours ahead of ca?! So if it was a friend at penn who received the odd text then it was received their end at 2.30am, presumably when they would be sleeping. The 4am return to the park would be 7am in pa... a normal time to wake up and see a strange text. Hmm im not sure of my point lol

:laughing: