Account
Jun 16, 2020
Jan 08, 2024
Thomas
Manizak
53
28
73 inches
150 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
On July 30, 1999, 28-year-old Thomas Edward Manizak, a male with brown hair and green eyes, was traveling with the intention of reaching Newport, Oregon. The last confirmed contact with him was a phone call he made to his mother from a truck stop situated to the east of Twin Falls, Idaho. At the time of his disappearance, Manizak was known to travel across the country in his 1970 copper-colored Ford van. He was an avid camper and would often set up camp along highways. It was also known that he frequently offered rides to hitchhikers. Manizak was dependent on insulin for his diabetes, requiring two injections daily. Living in California at the time, Manizak had a habit of keeping in regular contact with his family, typically calling his mother twice a week to assure her of his safety. After the final call from the Idaho truck stop, all communication from him ceased. Concern for his welfare grew as he did not use his medical card to obtain necessary insulin supplies nor did he claim his disability checks. His van, a brown and copper 1970 Ford with California license plate number 87647D, was never located. The circumstances of his disappearance were unsettling for his family, who for years held onto hope for his return. For a quarter of a century, Thomas Manizak's whereabouts remained a mystery. Then, in April, a man who was non-verbal was found in the Los Angeles area and admitted to a local hospital. Authorities were unable to identify him. A significant breakthrough occurred when his sister recognized him in a news article published in USA Today that featured a photo of the unidentified man. After being contacted by his sister, law enforcement was able to confirm the man's identity as Thomas Manizak through fingerprints. The news of his discovery brought both relief and complex emotions to his family, who are now hoping to be reunited with him.
Jul 30, 1999
Newport
Oregon
Lincoln County
Newport
No
83936
Lassen County Sheriff's Office
Susanville
California
Lassen County
96130
1415 Sheriff Cady Lane, California
5302518013
County
Law Enforcement
2701799
Lassen County Sheriff's Office
Brown
Green
Green
yes
05/25/2026
