Did you know that California has the highest number of missing person cases in the United States, with over 50,000 reported missing each year? Among these cases is the haunting story of Michael VanZandt, whose disappearance continues to baffle investigators and haunt his loved ones.
Michael “Mike” David VanZandt, aged 36, was last seen on March 5, 2016, in Hermosa Beach, California. He disappeared after a night out with friends, during which he got separated from the group.
Born on January 17, 1980, in Pleasant Lake, Michigan, VanZandt served in the Air Force for 12 years, including deployments in Iraq. At the time of his disappearance, he worked as a civilian contractor at Edwards Air Force Base and lived in Lancaster, California. He was undergoing a divorce and shared custody of his two sons and a daughter.
On the night he went missing, VanZandt was socializing with friends at various bars in Hermosa Beach. Surveillance footage shows him leaving a liquor store alone and walking towards the beach at 11:27 pm. Despite extensive searches and inquiries, including checking jails and hospitals, no trace of him has been found. His cellphone activity ceased the night he disappeared, and there has been no activity on his credit or debit cards since.