On June 11, 1998, Jonathan Aujay, a 38-year-old Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy, disappeared after embarking on a day hike in the Devil's Punchbowl area of the Angeles National Forest. An experienced outdoorsman and ultramarathon runner, Aujay was known for his weekly hikes in the San Gabriel Mountains. On the morning of his disappearance, he informed his wife he would be home by dark. Early in his hike, he spoke with a teacher and a group of children, mentioning his plan to run to the summit of Mount Baden-Powell, a journey of about twenty miles, and return by sunset. Witnesses reported seeing a man matching his description jogging towards the mountain throughout the day. The last known sighting of Aujay was at 6:00 p.m., heading in the direction of the parking lot. Shortly after, area residents reported hearing a single gunshot.
Aujay's wife reported him missing at 11:00 p.m. that night, and a search was promptly initiated after his truck was found in the park's parking lot. An extensive week-long search involving helicopters, bloodhounds, and a team of thirty people failed to yield any significant clues beyond some footprints in the snow near Mount Baden-Powell. Aujay, a former U.S. Army Special Forces paratrooper and a 15-year veteran of the Sheriff's Department, was described as a conscientious employee. He left behind his wife of twelve years and their five-year-old daughter. According to his wife, Aujay had requested a divorce a month before he vanished. His sister also stated he was unhappy living in Los Angeles County and wished to move to the mountains.
Several theories surround Aujay's disappearance, which remains unsolved. Investigators initially considered suicide, and after a five-day search, the sheriff's missing persons bureau concluded this was the most likely scenario. Another theory is that he voluntarily disappeared. His sister believes he may have planned his disappearance to start a new life, suggesting he was unhappy and had the skills to vanish without a trace. There were also rumors that he might have gone to Alaska or was involved in a covert military mission.
Foul play has also been a significant consideration in the investigation. For unspecified reasons, investigators believed "Operation Silent Thunder," a two-year undercover methamphetamine operation in the Antelope Valley, might hold clues to his whereabouts. However, the operation did not produce any leads. Informants from biker gangs suggested Aujay might have been killed after stumbling upon a meth lab. In 2000, a sheriff's homicide detective investigated a fellow deputy suspected of involvement in the drug trade and Aujay's potential murder, but the investigation was halted. Another former deputy, Darren Hager, who was part of "Operation Silent Thunder," believed he had promising leads linking another deputy to Aujay's case but was removed from the investigation and later terminated. Hager subsequently won a wrongful termination lawsuit against the county.
Last Seen: Jun 11, 1998
