Disappearance of Austin Sparks

In Montgomery Creek, California 15 year old Austin Sparks was awake that morning due to his medication giving him problems sleeping on January 4, 2004. He woke his father up around 7:00 am. His father told him to go back to bed, but instead Austin went on a walk. His footprints in the snow showed he walked a mile to Acorn Cafe. An employee said that Austin came in twice. He was last seen outside the Cafe between 9:30 and 10:00 am.

At this time Austin was attending a special needs school in Redding, California. His mother had passed away in 1997 and he was raised by his father. Austin was a champion hacky-sack player at both world and state level.s He also enjoyed skateboarding and it was believed that he was heading to Redding State Park even though he had neither his skateboard or hacky-sack

At this time him and his father were supposed to go on a vacation, but due to the weather their plans were changed. Austin was disappointed, but it isn't believed he ran away. His foot prints were easily followed due to his unique shoe. His shoes lead up to the Pitt River in a remote and rugged area where it was difficult for even the police to get to. His father believed that he may have became disoriented and ended up there. Austin may have fallen into the River and drowned.

Austin was described as being a shy, intelligent, and withdrawn kid. He wasn't gullible, but his personality made slight changes after he started taking a new medicine. He had become more talkative and outgoing and his father believed he may have been more gullible and trusting of people.

Austin is a white male and was 15 years old at the time of his disappearance. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He was 5'0 and 115 lbs at the time of his disappearance. Austin suffered from sever emotional issues, he was taking medication for it daily, this included antidepressants. He'd been taking it for the last 3 years. He did not have his medicine with him. He was wearing black and grey Globe skater shoes with an unique pattern on the bottom, brown or blue sweatpants, and a black or dark blue sweat shirt.



SOURCES:
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/sparks_austin.html
https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/4269