In the winter of 2021, a 36-year-old man named Austin Matthew Leming vanished from Kent, Washington, leaving behind a life that included a construction and landscaping business in the nearby Enumclaw area and, most importantly, a son. He was last seen on December 7, 2021, at an apartment complex in downtown Kent. His family, certain he would never abandon his child, quickly came to the devastating conclusion that he must be deceased.
The initial report of his disappearance was filed with the Puyallup Police Department on December 12, 2021, by his mother, after friends and family had not heard from him since December 8. Investigators soon found indications that his disappearance was suspicious, and after tracing his last known movements, the case was transferred to the Kent Police Department.
The investigation eventually led detectives to the apartment of a man named Brian Mares. What they uncovered there painted a grim picture of Austin Leming's final moments. After Leming was reported missing, Mares had asked his girlfriend's father for 'help,' revealing a horrifying scene within his apartment: torn-up floors and a pool of blood on which thawing meat had been placed. A subsequent police search of the apartment confirmed the floors had been removed and revealed blood spatter in every room. DNA testing later confirmed that the blood found in the spare bedroom, living room, and dining room belonged to Austin Leming. Witnesses also came forward stating that at the time of his disappearance, Leming was in possession of a large quantity of drugs and cash, items that were later seen in Mares' possession. One witness even reported seeing Mares cleaning what appeared to be blood and tissue from an electric saw in the weeks following Leming's disappearance.
After a lengthy and intensive investigation, Brian Mares was arrested in November 2025 and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Austin Leming's death. It is believed that Mares killed Leming during a verbal dispute on December 8, 2021, and then dismembered his body. Despite the arrest and the compelling evidence against Mares, Austin Leming's body has never been found, denying his family the closure of a proper burial. Mares has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case is awaiting trial. The disappearance of Austin Leming is a tragic story that has left a family grappling with immeasurable grief and the agonizing uncertainty of their loved one's final resting place. The investigation, pieced together through witness testimony and forensic evidence, points to a violent end, but without the recovery of his remains, a crucial piece of the puzzle remains missing.Last Seen: Dec 7, 2021
