Six weeks after a missing Brentwood man’s car was found in Castaic, his mother is pleading with the community to help her find her son and bring him home.

21-year-old Dane Bryan Elkins was last seen on Sunday, Dec. 20 at around 8:20 p.m. near the I-5 Freeway and Templin Highway. Officials later discovered his abandoned vehicle with his wallet and cellphone inside.

“There’s been nothing, there’s a lot of sightings, and I want it to be him, but nothing,” his mother Deborah Elkins told KHTS on Monday.

Although nobody knows where he is, Deborah suspects that her son might be hiding near Castaic or closer to Magic Mountain, as Dane was familiar with camping in the area and was “comfortable” there.

Photo courtesy of Elkins family.

Elkins is described as white, with brown hair and green eyes. He stands around 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds, according to the missing person’s report. He may have facial hair.

“The silver lining is that, because this is happening during the pandemic a bunch of people reached out because they have the time to help,” said his mother. “I wish everyone would experience this (support) without the circumstances being too tragic.”

Deborah shared several stories of members of the community reaching out to offer assistance in helping bring her son home safely, including volunteers organizing hikes and search parties in Castaic, or even bringing food to homeless people in the San Fernando Valley in hopes of seeing him.

An engineering student at U.C. Santa Cruz, and 23-time national champion racquetball player, Elkins is known to his friends and family as a loving, intelligent young man.

“He’s really smart, kind, sweet, he’s very connected to his family,” his mother said. “Every day we think he’s just gonna show up… his three siblings miss him very much, we think about him all day.

See Related: Investigators Seeking Information On Missing Brentwood Man Last Seen In Castaic

Elkins was last seen in a blue jacket and black pants, and had left behind most of his personal effects in his abandoned vehicle, according to his mother.

His family believes that Elkins’ mental health may have declined and developed paranoia due to pressures from school and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo courtesy of Facebook

Anyone who believes they have found Elkins is encouraged to surreptitiously take a photo of whomever they believe to be him and send it to searchingfordaneelkins@gmail.com, as it will allow the family to better sift through legitimate leads before passing them on to investigators.

The family is also requesting that readers search their own neighborhoods on Saturday, with the hopes that with more eyes out on the streets, more ground can be covered to find Elkins.

Another way to help in the search is to raise awareness of social media by posting a copy of the flyer along with the hashtag #FindDaneElkins.

“I just miss him and love him and want to get him home,” Deborah said, “(My children) want their brother back, I just want my son back.”

If you have seen or have any information regarding Dane Elkins’ whereabouts contact the Los Angeles Police Department at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

Photo courtesy of Elkins family.

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