Jeffrey D. Askren, a 30-year-old electronics engineer from Sunnyvale, California, was last seen in Calaveras County on April 23, 1984. He had planned an overnight trip to photograph scenery in the West Point area and had made reservations at an inn in Sutter Creek for that night, but he never arrived. Askren was reported missing on May 1, 1984, after he failed to show up for his job in Santa Clara. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a Caucasian male, 5'9" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with red hair and blue eyes.
A few days after he vanished, Askren's late-model red Honda Accord was found abandoned on Winton Road in the West Point area of Calaveras County. The vehicle may have been at that location as early as April 25, 1984. When the car was discovered, there was snow on the ground, but no footprints were found nearby. Inside the vehicle, investigators located a camera tripod, and a camera lens cover was found on the ground next to the car. Despite an extensive search of the area, no other camera equipment or any other sign of Askren was found.
Authorities have considered a possible link between Askren's disappearance and the notorious serial killers Leonard Lake and Charles Ng. Askren's car was discovered just a few miles from a cabin in Wilseyville where Lake and Ng committed numerous murders during that time period. His disappearance in April 1984 falls within the timeframe of their killing spree. Although authorities have publicly acknowledged this potential connection, Askren's remains were not among those recovered from the Wilseyville property, and his case remains unsolved. The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office continues to seek information regarding his decades-old disappearance.
Last Seen: Apr 23, 1984
