Ronald David Kruska, 18, of Saugus, California, was last seen October 10, 1978. That day a friend dropped him off near Interstate 5 and Ronald intended to hitchhike. He had been upset after learning about his biological parentage that same day. Family members say he’d struggled with alcohol and marijuana but had recently been trying to turn his life around, planning to join the Job Corps and attend his sister’s wedding.

Ronald was a former Saugus High School football player. He was last seen wearing blue Levi’s jeans, tan sneakers and carrying a khaki-colored backpack. He had two distinctive tattoos: a Viking warrior on his left arm and a dragon with Japanese lettering on his upper right arm. His family did not report him missing until February 1979, believing at first he had left voluntarily. Authorities suspect he may be deceased, but no substantial evidence about his whereabouts has emerged.

Did anyone in the area near Interstate 5 on October 10, 1978, or anyone who knew Ronald then, ever notice him or his backpack?