Austin Burk, a 13-year-old White male, was reported missing from Lima, Ohio, on March 23, 2026. At the time, he was described as being 5-foot-5 inches tall and weighing 115 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie with thin black lines on it and a pair of black Under Armour sweatpants.
The circumstances of Austin's disappearance were complex, as his 17-year-old sister, Selina Burk, had also been missing from Lima since October 20 of the previous
year. According to Lima Police Department Detective Steve Stechschulte, both siblings were considered to be "chronic runaways." The detective explained that the department differentiates between runaway cases and suspected abductions, stressing that if an abduction were believed to have occurred, every effort would be made to notify the public immediately. In this instance, authorities did not believe Austin or his sister had been abducted.
Law enforcement and Austin's loved ones issued a public appeal for assistance in locating him. The community's concern was eased when a report on April 4, 2026, stated that Austin had been found. However, just over three months later, Austin, now 14 years old, was reported missing again. He was last seen in Lima on July 21, 2026.
As of July 2026, Austin Burk remains missing. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Shawnee Township Police Department at 1-419-227-4444. His case number with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System is NC999661028.Last Seen: Jul 21, 2026
