Blake's Mystery
Blake Nex vanished from Claremont in Los Angeles County on March 20, 1993, at age 37.
Leaving fresh groceries and his cats behind, all communication with his family and friends ceased, which was out of character for him. There's reason to believe he didn't walk away willingly.
What happened to Blake Nex?
Help us solve this 32-year mystery. Any detail could break the case.
Discover Blake’s Story on
The Vanished
Explore Blake's disappearance through two in-depth episodes of The Vanished podcast. Featuring interviews with family and friends, the host Marissa Jones reveals Blake’s life, personality, and the unresolved questions surrounding his case. The episodes bring out both the many angles of the investigation and the mystery of Blake himself. As you hear the possible scenarios, you - just like Blake's family and friends - will be left to weigh the evidence and ask what really happened in 1993.
Who is Blake?
Blake Nex was born on May 20, 1955. Raised in California with two siblings, Blake spent most of his life in the Claremont area.
He attended Oakmont Elementary (Claremont), Western Christian School (Covina), El Roble Junior High (Claremont), and Claremont High School. In 1982 and 1983, he attended Dallas Baptist University.
Blake had a passion for restoring old beach cruiser bikes and was incredibly good at it - meticulous, creative, and hands-on. That same eye for detail showed in other hobbies, too. He once painted a motorcycle gas tank to match the red flames on his beloved ’56 Chevy. He even built a miniature model of the car, carefully attaching tiny engine cables with tweezers and thread! You can spot the Chevy and one of the bikes in the photo gallery.
Around the time of his disappearance, Blake was working for a company that sold specialized oil filters.
Blake later in life took an interest in bodybuilding. He was also reportedly the co-owner of a gym located in an industrial complex in Claremont. We're interested in identifying and speaking with the person who co-owned the gym with Blake, as well as anyone who may have invested in the business.
Blake wasn't married and didn't have kids, but he had a close bond with his longtime friend Steve and Steve's family. His daughters even called him “Uncle Blake", showing just how much he meant to the people in his life.
Blake's Story
Vanished at the Crossroads: The Mystery of Blake Nex
A Life Interrupted
Blake Nex lived alone in a house tucked away in the quiet Padua Hills of North Claremont, California. Friends and family knew him as intelligent, fastidious with his home and tools, meticulous with his work, and gifted with his hands. He restored and customized beach cruiser bicycles, sourcing rare parts and building each one with precision. He was also deeply committed to physical fitness and, for a time, co-owned a gym. Though he valued independence, Blake had relationships with women, some long-term, and he remained closely connected to his family, particularly his mother.
In the spring of 1993, at age 37, Blake seemed to be standing at a crossroads. He spoke of plans to leave the country. Thailand fascinated him for its culture and the promise of a different kind of life. Then, without warning, he disappeared.
When Blake Went Missing
On March 20, 1993, his family grew concerned when he failed to return calls. Inside his home, everything appeared intact. Fresh groceries were in the kitchen, $500 cash were found in the house, and Blake's two cats had been left behind. Blake was gone, and so was his truck. Deeply unsettled, family members contacted law enforcement, but inconceivably, no formal report was taken at the time, and no investigation followed. Shortly after Blake's disappearance, someone broke into his home and stole his answering machine, his valuable toolbox, and three expensive beach cruiser bicycles. The family quickly identified the man who stole the bikes and the tools, confronted him, and retrieved the bikes. It is unknown who took the answering machine as these were two separate break-ins.
Clues at the Airport
Roughly two weeks after Blake's disappearance, his tan Toyota pickup was located in the long-term parking lot at Ontario Airport in California. Family members checked outgoing flight records and confirmed Blake had not left under his own name. If he departed by plane, it was under an alias. Some people have speculated that Blake left the country to start over, but the known facts point in another direction. Blake had never abandoned his responsibilities before. He had spoken openly about a large amount of cash he carried, referring to at least $30,000. He had made no effort to tie up loose ends and to make arrangements for his cats. The circumstances suggested a sudden and suspicious disappearance.
LASD's Neglect
The failure of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to act in 1993 set a disheartening pattern. Blake's brother has been sharply critical of the department's handling of the case. He recalls, “My mom was convinced right from the start this was a homicide, and she told law enforcement that. They never even called or interviewed me! They only spoke with my sister, who had a tendency to give inconsistent statements and claimed Blake left voluntarily. The Sheriff's Department just accepted that without question and took the easy way out! When I confronted them, they flippantly told me ‘It's not a crime to disappear.’ They blatantly refused to file a missing persons report!”
Blake's Final Chapter
The years before Blake's disappearance included both personal growth and legal trouble. Though he never used drugs himself, in the mid-1980s, Blake was arrested in connection with a cocaine-related operation at a Claremont Birkenstock store where he worked. He served a prison sentence but then rebuilt his life, focusing on fitness, bicycles, and a quieter way of living. Around the time of his disappearance, he talked about his work for a company selling oil filters, and he co-owned a gym with another man. His interest in Thailand may have reflected a desire for change, but no firm travel plans were ever confirmed.
Danger and Unaswered Leads
The possibility of foul play remains strong. Blake had requested early repayment in cash on a $10,000 business investment in the weeks leading up to his disappearance, possibly hinting at pressure or unsafe associations. He had also mentioned a deal in Las Vegas and was rumored to have been involved in steroid sales. One unresolved lead is a man named Larry, a fireman who reportedly co-owned the gym with Blake around 1992 and was involved in financial dealings with him.
Several people close to Blake recall this man's acssociation with him, yet there's no evidence Larry ever contacted friends or family after Blake’s disappearance. Locating and identifying Larry remains a key priority for anyone exploring this case.
Challenging LASD's Inaction
With the passing of their stepfather and their mother in need of support after a severe accident, Blake's brother was occupied with family matters while LASD still took no action. Royse recalls, 'It took me fighting hard to get them to file a missing persons report after the law changed in 2010.' Today, renewed efforts to find answers are building momentum. The ceaseless neglect by LASD has left the family frustrated, yet Blake's brother, supported wholeheartedly by his family, continues to raise public awareness. Media interest has grown, especially with the release of two episodes of the podcast The Vanished featuring Blake's case and contributions from family and close friends. This renewed focus opens a promising door to revealing the truth and achieving justice.
Three Decades of Waiting
It has been more than 30 years since Blake Nex disappeared. Those who loved him, including his brother as his closest living relative following the loss of their mother and recent passing of their sister, have not stopped wondering what happened. They have not stopped believing that someone, somewhere, holds the missing piece.
This person will be found, and the truth will be brought to light.
All images in this section were created by ChatGPT.
Timeline
Early March, 1993
Blake lives in a rented house in the Padua Hills area, Claremont, California. Around this time, he is still in contact with friends and family, though the details of his last conversations remain unclear.
Late March, 1993
Blake's family checks hospitals and other places to find him. Roughly two weeks later, his tan Toyota pickup is found in the long-term parking lot at Ontario Airport, California, with no clear explanation of who placed it there or when. Family members check outgoing flight records and confirm there is no record of Blake leaving, suggesting a possible alias or foul play. Law enforcement takes no action.
Image created by Grok (xAI)
Image created by Grok (xAI)
Recreation of Blake's light tan Toyota truck at Ontario Int. Airport, CA
April 1st, 1993
The LA County Sheriff's Department, having been notified of Blake's disappearance, does not file a missing persons report despite the concerning circumstances. At the time, law enforcement was not required to take reports for missing adults. Blake's case is dismissed as "voluntary disappearance" without investigation. No foul play is noted, but not all family members were interviewed, resulting in a sparse initial record.
1993 - 2010
Despite his family's insistence that Blake would never leave without telling them, law enforcement does not take any noteworthy action. No formal search is conducted. No evidence is collected. For 17 years, the case is ignored. During this time, Blake's mother suffers immensely. She spends years waiting for answers that never come, hoping for even the smallest sign of what happened to her son. In 2010, she survives a severe accident, enduring a painful and lengthy recovery. Blake's brother cares for her as best as he can, but one wound never heals - the unanswered question of Blake's fate.
December 2010
Desperate for action, Blake's brother once again pushes the LA County Sheriff's Department to officially reopen the case. He provides Blake's dental X-rays and photographs, but law enforcement still drags its feet.
March 2011
Eighteen years after Blake disappeared, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department finally files an official missing persons report following pressure from Blake’s brother. A homicide detective takes over the case and promises to enter Blake’s information into the Missing and Unidentified Persons System (MUPS), but there is no record this was ever done. They also fail to submit his case to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), despite California law requiring reporting of eligible missing persons. No new investigation follows.
The case quickly goes cold once again. Blake remains missing.
December 2017
Blake's mother passes away, never knowing what happened to her son. She spent the last decades of her life in quiet anguish, longing for answers she would never receive.
Late March, 1993
Shortly after Blake's disappearance, his house is broken into. One item that was definitely stolen was Blake's answering machine. The family never had a chance to listen to any messages on the machine, and to this day, no one knows who was responsible for the break-in. Given the timing and the mysterious nature of Blake's disappearance, the theft of the answering machine remains a troubling event.
Image created by ChatGPT
January 2025
New efforts to solve Blake's case begin. The family refuses to let his disappearance be forgotten.
May 2025
The family enters Blake's case into NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System). https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/142784
The entry is approved and published, increasing visibility across law enforcement and the public, enhancing collaboration between agencies, and facilitating the matching of unidentified remains.
May 2025
A PRA request (California Public Records Act) for Blake's case file, submitted by Blake's brother, is denied by the LA County Sheriff's Department. They claim the case is still open despite having conducted no meaningful investigation for decades, and apparently having done virtually nothing since filing the missing person's report in 2011.
March 20th, 1993
Blake's family, unable to reach him, checks his house. The place is undisturbed: no signs of struggle, no forced entry. Fresh groceries from a recent shopping trip sit untouched, his two cats are still inside, and so are $500 in cash. The scene suggests he had planned to return soon. Based on the groceries and the cats' condition, Blake had likely been gone for days before anyone realized.
Image created by ChatGPT
Recreation of Blake's home post-disappearance
September 2025
Exciting news! The Vanished podcast has produced two episodes featuring Blake's case, bringing his story to a wider audience. Interviews with family and close friends reveal newly uncovered details that shed fresh light on Blake’s case.
Listen to the episodes to discover the latest insights into Blake's case!
Blake and his mom
Can you help?
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Did you know Blake - friend, neighbor, coworker, or acquaintance?
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Do you have any information about the gym Blake co-owned?
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Do you remember seeing Blake's truck around the time of his disappearance? Was it parked somewhere unexpected?
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Did you work at or have any connection to Ontario Airport in 1993?
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Were you in the Padua Hills area during that time? Do you remember anything about Blake's house or belongings?
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Have you heard anything, big or small, that could help shed light on Blake's fate?
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