Support for LAist comes from
Made of L.A.
Stay Connected

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Canadian Woman Looking For Missing Son In Huntington Beach

Support your source for local news!
The local news you read here every day is crafted for you, but right now, we need your help to keep it going. In these uncertain times, your support is even more important. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership. Thank you.


A Canadian woman has traveled all the way to Huntington Beach in search of her son, who she said up and left home weeks after getting into a severe car crash. Tracy Beeso-Robichaud of Ontario is looking for her 23-year-old son Ryan Robichaud, according to OC Register. She said her son was in a car crash on New Year's Eve, after which he walked eight miles home with no recollection of the crash. Four hours earlier, police had visited Beeso-Robichaud's home to inform her they'd found her son's car crashed into a tree.

On Jan. 15, Beeso-Robichaud discovered Ryan had left their home without saying where he'd gone. Four days later, he called her from Boston and told her that he "died" in the crash and was now being guided by a higher power on a journey.

"He told me he had to drive at night so the other people on the road wouldn't hear his thoughts," she said.

At one point, she said he told her, "I look in the mirror and I see Ryan, but my brain isn't working like it used to," according to CBC.

Support for LAist comes from

Ryan then called his mother on Jan. 25 from Los Angeles, but reportedly wasn't sure how he'd gotten there. Beeso-Robichaud called the LAPD and a detective found Ryan. Beeso-Robichaud bought her son a plane ticket home and the detective dropped him off at the airport, however, Ryan never boarded the plane. The detective tracked him down again, and said that Ryan told him that he did not want to go home.

On Feb. 20, Ryan was seen at First Christian Church in Huntington Beach, where he was baptized.

Beeso-Robichaud believes her son is confused and needs help. "I'm terrified of what's going on. I'm terrified of his condition. I'm afraid he doesn't know how to survive. I hope to God we find him," she said.

Ryan is one of Beeso-Robichaud's four sons, who she has been raising alone since their father hanged himself 17 years ago.

She said Ryan has never been in any sort of legal trouble and has never left home without letting her know before. Back in Ontario, he worked in a warehouse and enjoyed rock climbing and snowboarding.

A friend of Beeso-Robichaud's has set up a GoFundMe to help her with her search.

Most Read