Missing Adult, Seeking Help

[Mizz_Ledd]

I am brand new to websleuths. Thank you for having me.
My adult son vanished nearly 2 years ago. He is an addict and was always in touch for a shower, snack, to do laundry, try getting sober, etc. He walked away from our home 2/18/2023 at about 8pm and has never returned. He hasn’t been heard from by friends, fellow addicts (associates), his siblings, or us, his parents.
He has not used or renewed his EBT or medi-cal.
The detective on his case in not much help.
We are in Castaic, CA.
Can anyone please help? I need to know if he is still with us.
Thank you.

 

[dmac55]

Deputies seeking help in locating Castaic man missing for over a year

Deputies seeking help in locating Castaic man missing for over a year

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are seeking help in locating a Castaic man who has been missing for more than a year. Justin Matthew Lederer, 31, was […]

signalscv.com

 

[WalkingCircles]

Thank you for sharing this information and taking the time to post. I am sorry that you and your family are going through this.

In reading things through, I didn't see an answer to these questions.

Was he known to frequent LA? Did he have a residence anywhere else?

Since you mention he has not used his EBT or medical cards, does that mean he left with ID in his possession as well? Did he have a passport or REAL ID and did he ever travel internationally?

 

[Tricia]

Dear Mizz_Ledd
I am so sorry to hear about your son. Our members can hopefully offer you some fresh ideas to help.
I want to invite you to become a verified member. This means we will verify that you are who you say you are, and then our members will know they are posting with Justin's mother. We do this so no one pretends to be someone they are not while posting at Websleuths. Yes, we have had that happen, unfortunately, hence the need for verification.
CLICK HERE to read how you can become verified.
Thank you,
Tricia

 

[GraceG]

Mizz_Ledd - I'm sorry you had to join us under these circumstances but hope someone here can help. In looking at court records for your son (with a focus on Los Angeles area counties I didn't find anything since the date of disappearance, only a misdemeanor arrest in 2018 of someone with the same name but different age who is from Pennsylvania, so not your son.

The LA county medical examiner does maintain a website for case information for unidentified missing persons. Using just what I know (gender, ethnicity) I didn't find any "John Doe" in the system that might be a match, BUT I noted that the database wasn't populating anything recently so don't know if that database is current. Los Angeles County Medical Examiner

I wish I could be more help. I hope you find your son.

 

[Mizz_Ledd]

Thank you for sharing this information and taking the time to post. I am sorry that you and your family are going through this.

In reading things through, I didn't see an answer to these questions.

Was he known to frequent LA? Did he have a residence anywhere else?

Since you mention he has not used his EBT or medical cards, does that mean he left with ID in his possession as well? Did he have a passport or REAL ID and did he ever travel internationally?

Thank you for asking. I appreciate your input! He has never traveled internationally. He did not have a real ID, only a state ID. It was in his possession when he left. He also had some minor drug charges in his past, so has fingerprints on file. According to the detective on his case, and my amateur research, he’s had no contact with law enforcement. He is a drug addict and did like hanging out on skid row, where he had an easy supply. We have been down to look around, and I’ve sent my own flyer to all the shelters in the area asking to let him know his family loves him and is here for him if they see him. I know they aren’t able to tell me if he stays at one.
His friends, even some who used with him, say he just plain disappeared. He hasn’t been on social media, answered emails, and he has no cell phone that any of us are aware.
Thanks again for any input you may have.

 

[Mizz_Ledd]

Mizz_Ledd - I'm sorry you had to join us under these circumstances but hope someone here can help. In looking at court records for your son (with a focus on Los Angeles area counties I didn't find anything since the date of disappearance, only a misdemeanor arrest in 2018 of someone with the same name but different age who is from Pennsylvania, so not your son.

The LA county medical examiner does maintain a website for case information for unidentified missing persons. Using just what I know (gender, ethnicity) I didn't find any "John Doe" in the system that might be a match, BUT I noted that the database wasn't populating anything recently so don't know if that database is current. Los Angeles County Medical Examiner

I wish I could be more help. I hope you find your son.

Thank you very much for looking. I’m definitely no expert, but I check all of those things regularly…like daily. I noticed also that there isn’t much recent on the unidentified list. I just assumed it’s been a lull in activity.

 

[Mizz_Ledd]

Thank you for asking. I appreciate your input! He has never traveled internationally. He did not have a real ID, only a state ID. It was in his possession when he left. He also had some minor drug charges in his past, so has fingerprints on file. According to the detective on his case, and my amateur research, he’s had no contact with law enforcement. He is a drug addict and did like hanging out on skid row, where he had an easy supply. We have been down to look around, and I’ve sent my own flyer to all the shelters in the area asking to let him know his family loves him and is here for him if they see him. I know they aren’t able to tell me if he stays at one.
His friends, even some who used with him, say he just plain disappeared. He hasn’t been on social media, answered emails, and he has no cell phone that any of us are aware.
Thanks again for any input you may have.

Also, it’s probably very worth mentioning that some of his associates have pointed me to two people he was last seen with. One is currently incarcerated in state prison. One has had some fairly recent arrests (8/2024).
I asked the detective to question them, but she doesn’t get back to me. It seems that a lowly drug addict is on the bottom of their list. I somewhat understand.

 

[Mizz_Ledd]

Dear Mizz_Ledd
I am so sorry to hear about your son. Our members can hopefully offer you some fresh ideas to help.
I want to invite you to become a verified member. This means we will verify that you are who you say you are, and then our members will know they are posting with Justin's mother. We do this so no one pretends to be someone they are not while posting at Websleuths. Yes, we have had that happen, unfortunately, hence the need for verification.
CLICK HERE to read how you can become verified.
Thank you,
Tricia

Done. Thank you very much!

 

[WalkingCircles]

Thank you for asking. I appreciate your input! He has never traveled internationally. He did not have a real ID, only a state ID. It was in his possession when he left. He also had some minor drug charges in his past, so has fingerprints on file. According to the detective on his case, and my amateur research, he’s had no contact with law enforcement. He is a drug addict and did like hanging out on skid row, where he had an easy supply. We have been down to look around, and I’ve sent my own flyer to all the shelters in the area asking to let him know his family loves him and is here for him if they see him. I know they aren’t able to tell me if he stays at one.
His friends, even some who used with him, say he just plain disappeared. He hasn’t been on social media, answered emails, and he has no cell phone that any of us are aware.
Thanks again for any input you may have.

I apologize for all of the questions—I just want to get a clear picture so I know where I might want to start looking. Please feel free to abstain from answering any/all considering this is a public forum.

I have an uncle who has struggled with addiction for over 50 of his 68 years. He has been known to disappear for lengths of time but then surfaces, and it’s just difficult. For all of the care, love, and support family can offer, it’s really something that won’t change until he’s ready for it to change, and sometimes he just doesn’t want to be found.

My understanding from the articles I read is that Justin left your home in February of 2023 but had kept in touch with some friends. Did they last hear from him at that time, or did he stay in contact for a duration after that?

Was there a particular career path or line of work he had that he might seek out or return to?

Any chance he would have gone to a different state?

 

[Mizz_Ledd]

I apologize for all of the questions—I just want to get a clear picture so I know where I might want to start looking. Please feel free to abstain from answering any/all considering this is a public forum.

I have an uncle who has struggled with addiction for over 50 of his 68 years. He has been known to disappear for lengths of time but then surfaces, and it’s just difficult. For all of the care, love, and support family can offer, it’s really something that won’t change until he’s ready for it to change, and sometimes he just doesn’t want to be found.

My understanding from the articles I read is that Justin left your home in February of 2023 but had kept in touch with some friends. Did they last hear from him at that time, or did he stay in contact for a duration after that?

Was there a particular career path or line of work he had that he might seek out or return to?

Any chance he would have gone to a different state?

Anything is possible, but there is no indication that he ever left Los Angeles. He did stay in touch with his friend/former sponsor until early May 2023, when he no longer responded to him. He was also know to be hanging out with 2 others until then (his “dealers”). One is incarcerated and the other is still out there with an arrest as recent as 08/2024. I was told by another associate of Justin that they know more than they’ll ever tell me. I told the detective that. That haunts me. He was a cook/pastry chef. It seems to me the detective could find out if he’s paid income taxes anywhere. How can I access that info?
Once again, thanks so much for your guidance and questions.

 

[truthfinder2019]

@Mizz_Ledd so sorry to read what you are going through and I hope your son is safe and that you will find him.

There is little information but to start with, this news article gives more photos of Justin. Spreading more information may help.

Castaic Family Seeking Public Help Locating Beloved Son, Brother

A Castaic family is seeking the public’s help in locating their beloved son and brother, who has been missing for over a year. Justin Lederer, a 2011 graduate of West Ranch High School, has been missing since February of 2023, said his mother Holi in a phone interview with KHTS. “Justin had a...

www.hometownstation.com

This seems to be his instagram

Login • Instagram

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www.instagram.com

Unfortunately his last post dates back from 2023

His FB page, also outdated

Log into Facebook

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www.facebook.com

On the Charley Project

Justin Matthew Lederer – The Charley Project

CA dpt Justice page

Justin Matthew Lederer

oag.ca.gov

 

[Mizz_Ledd]

@Mizz_Ledd so sorry to read what you are going through and I hope your son is safe and that you will find him.

There is little information but to start with, this news article gives more photos of Justin. Spreading more information may help.

Castaic Family Seeking Public Help Locating Beloved Son, Brother

A Castaic family is seeking the public’s help in locating their beloved son and brother, who has been missing for over a year. Justin Lederer, a 2011 graduate of West Ranch High School, has been missing since February of 2023, said his mother Holi in a phone interview with KHTS. “Justin had a...

www.hometownstation.com

This seems to be his instagram

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Unfortunately his last post dates back from 2023

His FB page, also outdated

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

On the Charley Project

Justin Matthew Lederer – The Charley Project

CA dpt Justice page

Justin Matthew Lederer

oag.ca.gov

Thank you. I wasn’t sure if any of that was relevant, since nothing has been updated in a very long time.
I just want to know…need to know where he is. It’s extremely difficult to at my head on a soft pillow, in a warm bed knowing he’s either an undiscovered corpse, or suffering in addiction on the streets. He deserves better.

 

[WalkingCircles]

Thank you. I wasn’t sure if any of that was relevant, since nothing has been updated in a very long time.
I just want to know…need to know where he is. It’s extremely difficult to at my head on a soft pillow, in a warm bed knowing he’s either an undiscovered corpse, or suffering in addiction on the streets. He deserves better.

Again, thank you for posting and following up.

Do you know if he was in LA when he was last in contact? I know the poster and article said he had a possible destination of Skid Row, but I did not see any confirmation of where he was last in touch with anyone.

I have a friend who has previously worked with different charities around Los Angeles, some of them serving Skid Row. I sent a message over to one of those folks to see if they could give any suggestions based on their knowledge of the area and some of the residents they have gotten to know.

Individual income taxes are not public record, so I do not know of a way to obtain that information without law enforcement intervention. Of course, he could be doing work with pay under the table. There are sites that draw from publicly available information, though, such as "Did My Friends Vote?" (in this case, that a person voted, but not who they voted for) and "OpenGovPay" (that lists salaries for government employees).

 

[feels_close_to_home]

It’s extremely difficult to at my head on a soft pillow, in a warm bed knowing he’s either an undiscovered corpse, or suffering in addiction on the streets. He deserves better.

This is almost exactly why i do what i do. no one deserves an unwritten end, and it tears me apart sometimes imagining every possible outcome. Doing an initial pass here.

I wouldn't recommend posting them all in public, nor do you have any reason to trust me, but if you could DM me a list of any social media/usernames/emails/gamer tags/anything like that, it's what I work with and what a lot of my initial search time takes up.

edit question: i see Mizz_Ledd has said they sent verification. Will we be able to see this?

 

[feels_close_to_home]

Submitted to Namus.

Pending but

MP132911​

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[feels_close_to_home]

@Mizz_Ledd If you're still around and willing to answer personal questions (ie; i'm looking for where JML went to high school right now) shoot me a DM? Always been curious what I can do with the person needing help willing to help me with random data points that would normally eat up a ton of time.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

Dear Mizz_Ledd
I am so sorry to hear about your son. Our members can hopefully offer you some fresh ideas to help.
I want to invite you to become a verified member. This means we will verify that you are who you say you are, and then our members will know they are posting with Justin's mother. We do this so no one pretends to be someone they are not while posting at Websleuths. Yes, we have had that happen, unfortunately, hence the need for verification.
CLICK HERE to read how you can become verified.
Thank you,
Tricia

@Mizz_Ledd .....
I do hope you can work on becoming a verified member...
AND... perhaps you can get help to change the title of this thread. If you put the location of where he went missing, and his name in the title.... it would invite more inquiry to help in the search....

 

[feels_close_to_home]

@Mizz_Ledd .....
I do hope you can work on becoming a verified member...
AND... perhaps you can get help to change the title of this thread. If you put the location of where he went missing, and his name in the title.... it would invite more inquiry to help in the search....

i sent a report to try to get the title changed, i don't want the thread deleted though

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I hope you find your son very soon, Mizz_Ledd. I am sorry for what you're going through. Please take care of yourself.