Weird New Details About The Pennsylvania Teen Who Went Missing In The Woods After Meeting Up With A Friend
His friend says he went into the park bathroom and when he came out, Blaze Bernstein was gone.
The Daily Pennsylvanian A massive search is underway for a Pennsylvania college sophomore who went missing after meeting up with a friend in the woods last week.
Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old student who attends the University of Pennsylvania, hasn't been seen or heard from since Jan. 2. According to police, witnesses last saw him entering a park in the Lake Forest area of Orange County around 11:30 p.m.
"Witnesses said he met up with a friend and the two drove to Borrego Park, where the teen exited the vehicle and entered the park," said an Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesperson. The teen's family said Blaze didn't tell his friend why he wanted to go into the park, all they knew was that he was going there to meet an unknown person.
The friend left the park after Blaze stopped returning texts. They returned to the park around 4 a.m. to look for him. His parents weren't even aware that their son had gone to the park until they noticed he was missing the next day.
That sequence of events contradicts earlier reports that stated Blaze and a friend met up at a park. The friend went to the park's bathroom and when they came out, they said Blaze was gone.
His family doesn't believe their son planned to be gone for very long.
Blaze reportedly left behind most of his belongings. His eyeglasses, wallet, credit card and keys were all found at his family's home where he had been staying.
Police say he did take his cellphone with him, but it was turned off about an hour after he went missing.
“He didn’t have anything with him,” attorney and family friend Annee Della Donna said. “He didn’t have his glasses or his medication. He didn’t bring his wallet or a phone charger. I don’t think he planned on this being a long trip and he just disappeared.”
Family members said that before he disappeared Blaze made dinner for his relatives and was excited about going back to school and moving into a new apartment. His father, Gideon Blaze, said his son didn't display any behavior that was odd or that of someone who might be running away.
Someone matching Blaze's description was spotted walking alone alongside a nearby highway around 5:40 a.m. Police are still searching for the teen.
Blaze has blue eyes, brown hair is 5-foot-8 and weighs 130 pounds. He was wearing a dark-colored jacket, dark gray long-sleeved zip-up and white Adidas shoes when last seen.
Anyone with information was asked to call (714) 647-7000. Orange County Crime Stoppers will accept anonymous tips at (855) TIP-OCCS.
Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 10:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTango’s Facebook page. You can follow her on Instagram (@blackw00d) and Twitter (@emztweetz).