He Called His Friends To Say He Was Lost While Walking Home One Night, And Then He Vanished
Born on June 15, 1999, Bryce Borca was raised in Minnesota and regarded as an empathetic and kind person by his loved ones. As a young adult, he taught and mentored children at a local school, earning the title of “Mr. Bryce” among his students.
But, after the 23-year-old went out on October 29, 2022, to celebrate Halloween, he mysteriously disappeared, and his family has been searching for answers ever since.
That night, Bryce had gone out with some friends in his home state, and around 2:00 a.m. on October 30, they all decided to head home. So, they called a Lyft, and between 2:00 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., Bryce and his two friends were dropped off by their Lyft driver in the 3200 block of Hill Ridge Drive in Eagen, Minnesota.
At that point, Bryce told his friends that he was going to walk to his apartment – which was about two miles away. However, evidence suggests that Bryce actually walked away in the opposite direction, heading toward the Minnesota River Valley.
After parting ways with his friends that evening, Bryce vanished, and he was never seen or heard from again.
Later that same morning, at about 10:50 a.m., Bryce’s friends called the police and asked if authorities could conduct a welfare check at his apartment. Upon arrival, investigators found no sign of Bryce, which ultimately led him to be reported missing to the Eagan Police Department.
Once an investigation was launched, the Lyft driver claimed that Bryce had been extremely intoxicated that night. The driver even alleged that Bryce had attempted to exit the vehicle while it was moving.
Bryce’s friends told investigators that he’d planned to walk back to his apartment, located at 3435 Promenade Avenue, alone. The walk would have taken approximately 45 minutes.
Yet, according to an affidavit, Bryce actually Facetimed his friends at 2:34 a.m. He said his phone battery only had 2% left, and he didn’t know where he was. During the call, Bryce reportedly appeared to be in a wooded region. Then, the Facetime call ended.
Melinda Nagy – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Upon tracing Bryce’s phone, authorities determined that he had walked through an industrial area close to Yankee Doodle Road and Highway 13. Afterward, he walked into a wooded region, which is home to various ponds and marshes.
This discovery led investigators to search over 1,000 acres of the surrounding area using both K9 units and drones. But, no evidence was uncovered, and Bryce’s case remains unsolved.
On the one-year anniversary of his disappearance, Bryce’s family released a renewed statement reflecting on their grief.
“We never thought we would be celebrating the life of a child before our own. Then, the unimaginable happens, and life changes forever. Losing a child is the hardest loss there is. The pain never retreats,” said Bryce’s parents, Troy and Carina Borca.
“At times, it might dull for an hour or two, but the hole in our hearts will be there forever. It is our hope that someday that hole becomes less jagged,” the statement continued.
“The last year has been the hardest year of our lives. We are not the same people we were a year ago. So many things have changed. As people who are planful in our lives, this was not in the plan. But it’s clear the plan is not ours to execute on. It’s in God’s hands.”
And although Bryce’s remains have yet to be found, his family has become determined to help other families in similar situations. They launched Bryce’s Blessings, an organization “founded to provide lasting impact and financial support bereaved families coping with the loss of a child, especially those dealing with ambiguous loss.”
According to Troy and Carina, focusing on the hope and positivity that has managed to cut through the devastation of Bryce’s disappearance has been critical.
“We have seen and been part of so many good things. We have reconnected with old best friends. We have become closer to Bryce’s friends. We have made new lifelong friends experiencing the same heartache of losing a child,” the Borcas said.
“We have met some of the amazing teachers Bryce worked with and heard stories and have letters from the children he spent his days with. These are priceless and bring us so much joy. We have seen thousands help us search for answers. Perfect strangers have reached out to share their thoughts and prayers,” they continued.
“And finally, we have started a foundation in Bryce’s name to help other parents and families find peace and comfort through their darkest times. Some have called it ‘putting purpose into pain,’ and that feels just as good as it sounds.”
Bryce was six foot one, weighed between 150 and 160 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing black dress pants, a white button-down shirt, a black and white cardigan sweater, and size 12 New Balance shoes.
Six months after he disappeared, Bryce’s family offered a $30,000 reward for information that led to his discovery.
If you have any information regarding Bryce’s case, you are urged to contact the Eagan Police Department at (651) 675-5706.
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