Blake's Mystery
Blake Royse 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.
Blake stood approx. 6 feet tall and weighed 175 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes.
What happened to Blake?
Help us solve this 32-year mystery - any detail could break the case.
Who is Blake?
Blake Royse Nex was born on May 20, 1955.
Raised in California with two siblings, Blake spent most of his life in Southern California, particularly in the Claremont area.
He attended Oakmont Elementary (Claremont) until at least 4th grade, Western Christian School (Covina) for probably 5th and 6th grades, El Roble Junior High (Claremont) for 7th and 8th grades, and Claremont High School from 9th to 12th grades.
In 1982 and 1983, he attended Dallas Baptist University.
As you can see in his most recent photo, Blake liked wearing a flat-top hairstyle, a style common in his youth.
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.
Blake later in life took an interest in bodybuilding.
At the time of his disappearance, Blake was working for a company that sold specialized oil filters.
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. Any information could help clarify important aspects of Blake’s life in the months leading up to his disappearance.
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 is remembered as someone with warmth, intelligence, and a presence that left an impression.
More details and new information will be revealed in an episode of The Vanished podcast that is currently being produced, so check back for updates.
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.
Blake and his mom
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
July 2025
Exciting news! The Vanished podcast is producing an episode featuring Blake's case to help bring his story to a wider audience. Interviews with friends and family are nearly complete. The episode will include newly uncovered, compelling information that sheds fresh light on Blake's disappearance.
Can you help?
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Were you in the Claremont area around March 20, 1993? Did you notice anything unusual?
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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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