Naperville native's parents await news on teen missing in California
Family and friends of a Naperville native who has been missing north of Los Angeles since Friday, Aug. 30 are awaiting the results of an autopsy on a burned body found three miles from the missing teen's car.
Bryce Laspisa, 19, last was heard from about 2 a.m. Aug. 30 when he called his mother from just north of Los Angeles County, authorities said. His SUV, which was damaged in an accident, was found overturned in the unincorporated Los Angeles community of Castaic — about three miles from where a badly burned body was found Wednesday.
Efforts to identify the body, which was burned beyond recognition, have begun, Los Angeles County Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said Thursday. But until those efforts are complete, there is no way to know if the body is Laspisa's. An autopsy is expected to begin Friday, Harvey said.
Laspisa is a 2012 Naperville Central High School graduate who also attended Kingsley Elementary and Lincoln Junior High schools in Naperville Unit District 203.
According to Laspisa's Facebook page, he attends Sierra College and lives in Rocklin in northern California.
Laspisa's parents, Karen and Michael, who now live in Laguna Niguel in Orange County south of Los Angeles, have been posting updates and seeking support on the FIND BRYCE LASPISA Facebook page. One post Wednesday said the family is “waiting in limbo at home” to hear if the burned body is their son's. Until they hear confirmation, they are asking people to “keep the faith” as police continue their investigation and search for their son.
“As Bryce's mom, I have truly taken comfort in reading all the posts from his family and friends around the country,” Karen wrote Thursday morning on the Facebook page. “Know how much we appreciate all the kind, and, of course, funny comments. All of us that know and love Bryce are aware of his kind heart and making us laugh. Keep those posts coming!”