The person at the center of this case
Austin Cole Hernandez
Missing Person · Open
29 years waiting · since 1997
Missing Person: Austin Cole Hernandez
Justice for Austin Cole Hernandez — the trail went cold in 1997, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1Gilbert Arredondo Hernandez has a distinctive scar on the back of his head—has anyone encountered a man matching this description in Las Vegas or Southern California since 1997?
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location
Lead #2Why were Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties identified as possible locations? What specific leads pointed investigators to these areas?
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clue
Lead #3Austin was only 2 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 18 lbs at the time of disappearance—were there any medical conditions or circumstances that made him dependent on his father?
Austin Cole Hernandez, a 30-year-old male, was last seen on April 28, 1997, in Tehachapi, California, and is believed to have been abducted by his father, Gilbert Arredondo Hernandez. A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for the father in November 1997, with possible locations including Las Vegas, Nevada, and Los Angeles or San Bernardino counties in California. Despite nearly three decades passing, the case remains open and any information about their whereabouts could help bring closure to this family.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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contact
Lead #4Has anyone had contact with either Austin or Gilbert Arredondo Hernandez in the past 27 years, even if they didn't realize the significance at the time?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP2003. Missing person: Austin Cole Hernandez.
Last known contact: 1997-04-28 in Tehachapi, Alameda, CA. Circumstances: Austin was allegedly abducted by his father, Gilbert Arredondo Hernandez.
A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for the abductor on November 4, 1997. The abductor has a scar on the back of his head.
They may be in Las Vegas, Nevada, or the Los Angeles or San Bernardino counties of California. Demographics: 30 years, Male, Hispanic / Latino.
Physical description: 2 ft 2 in, 18 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown. Investigating agency: Kern County District Attorney | TE970031.
Timeline of Events
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1997-04-28
Last Known Contact
Austin Cole Hernandez was last seen in Tehachapi, Alameda, CA. He is believed to have been abducted by his father, Gilbert Arredondo Hernandez.
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1997-11-04
Federal Warrant Issued
A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for Gilbert Arredondo Hernandez, the suspected abductor.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 28, 1997
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 28, 1997
Last Updated:September 26, 2026