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, the alleged abductor and Austin's father, has a distinctive scar on the back of his head—has this identifying mark been used in searches?
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location
Lead #2Why were Las Vegas, Nevada and Los Angeles/San Bernardino counties specifically identified as potential locations—was there credible intelligence or family connections there?
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clue
Lead #3What evidence led to the conclusion that an abduction occurred rather than voluntary departure?
Austin Cole Hernandez, a 30-year-old male, was last known to be in contact on April 28, 1997, in Tehachapi, California, when he was allegedly abducted by his father, Gilbert Arredondo Hernandez. A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for the abductor in November 1997, and they may be located in Las Vegas, Nevada, or Los Angeles or San Bernardino counties in California. Despite nearly three decades passing, Austin's whereabouts remain unknown, and anyone with information about this case is urged to contact authorities.
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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 known to be in contact in Tehachapi, Alameda, CA
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1997-11-04
Federal Warrant Issued
Federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution issued for abductor Gilbert Arredondo Hernandez
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 28, 1997
Last Updated:July 28, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 28, 1997
Last Updated:July 28, 2026