Missing Under Suspicious Circumstances: A Mendocino Mother Searches for Her Only Son Who Was Raised Here in the Emerald Triangle

Josiah Hilderbrand missing poster

After this flyer was created, another $5000 was added to the reward making a total of $15,000.

Liz Hilderbrand who runs a pet sitting service in Piercy, a tiny hamlet in the northern tip of Mendocino County, California, is hoping someone somewhere has information about her son. Josiah Hilderbrand, age 25, was last known to be headed to the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington State with another man, Jon Cleary on June 7 to see Dead & Company (a band consisting of several members of the Grateful Dead).

Both of the two men are missing under suspicious circumstances, according to Yakima County Public Information Officer Casey Schilperoort. Their route to Washington State is unclear.

Liz says she doesn’t even know if Jon Cleary and her son got together in Southern California or in the Bay area to travel north. She hopes that people might recognize their vehicle or them and pass information on to law enforcement so that their route can be pieced together.

“I just want to know where my son is,” Liz Hilderbrand told us this weekend.

She paused trying to breathe through the pain and asked, “Am I even a mom anymore? Then she added in a ragged succession, “All I ever wanted to be was a mom… I’m afraid I’m never going to hear him laugh again. I can hear in my head how he said, ‘Mom.’…Do you ever forget what their voice sounds like…?”

Josiah and Liz Hilderbrand

Josiah and Liz Hilderbrand with her dogs. Josiah spent this last winter living at her home in Piercy and she says the dogs miss him, too. 

She explained that she doesn’t want to think of him “discarded like he’s a piece of garbage.” Though through most of interview, Liz Hilderbrand was calm and factual, determined to do her best to fight for her son and provide the information she knew that might help, but, here she choked up, “I can’t handle that….That’s my boy. I want him home… .”

She added, “I’m hoping that by offering money that someone is going to be willing to say something.” She explained that with the help of one of her pet sitting clients, the reward for information is now $15,000.

blue Honda Hybrid

This shows a similar vehicle to the one that Josiah Hilderbrand and Jon Cleary were riding in.

The vehicle Josiah and Jon were last seen in, a light blue 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid, was found abandoned in the county of Yakima also in Washington state.

Liz said she didn’t know right away that her son had gone missing. For a few days, she thought he had lost his phone because no one could get in touch with him. She learned that something was wrong through a message from a friend that the car he was believed to be in was found abandoned.

A deputy with the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office who was trying to track down why a blue Honda Civic had been abandoned under odd circumstances in his area had contacted the listed owner, she explained.

That person, a previous owner, said that a man named Jon Cleary had been driving the vehicle recently. Later, it was learned that Jon had last texted a friend showing a photo of him and another man in the Honda.

Jon Cleary and Josiah Hilderbrand in the Honda Civic

The last known photo of Jon Cleary and Josiah Hilderbrand was taken in the Honda Civic about 4:45 p.m. June 7.

As concern about Cleary arose over the next few days, the photo was shared among friends and another person recognized the other man in the Honda as Josiah Hilderbrand, a former resident of both Humboldt and Mendocino County. Then the friend notified Liz.

Liz said she was immediately worried. She knew that her son had been out of contact for a week. And none of the close-knit Deadhead community had seen him at the June 7 concert.

“My son is not a loner,” she explained. “He’s always connected with somebody…and no one has heard from him.”

She then contacted the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office on June 14 with the information that her son had been with Jon Cleary in the Honda Civic and no one had had contact with him since.

The case has now moved from an abandoned vehicle case to detectives, according to the Yakima County Sheriff Public Information Officer Casey Schilperoort.

Liz said a post that she put up about her missing son has been shared on Facebook about 5000 times. “It’s getting shared in all these fan groups,” she explained. “There are people all over the country trying to find him.”

She added that people she doesn’t even know are creating a banner to display at the Dead events this summer in hopes of gathering information about Jon Cleary and Josiah’s disappearance.

osiah Hilderbrand and Jon Cleary event poster

Josiah Hilderbrand and Jon Cleary as pictured on a Facebook event poster asking friends to “Light a candle, pray, hold space for Jon and Josiah and Families.” [Image from here.]

“What better way to honor him–to show that he is worth something,” she choked out. “People have been very good, very supportive.”

Liz is hoping that people will share Josiah’s story and help bring him home. She says she is determined to find out where he is. “I have to stay strong for him,” she said. “Right now he still needs me. When we get through this, I can curl up in a ball… .”

Josiah and Liz Hilderbrand

Liz with Josiah.

She added, “I always want to be the person I am capable of being for my child. If I fell apart I would not be honoring him. I want to always be the mom he would be proud of.”

Liz posted this description on her Facebook page, “Josiah is 25 years old, 5’8”, 165 lbs. He has a cartoonish (Irwin) wolf head on the left side of his neck and a Egyptian looking cat on the right (cats under the stars motif).”

If anyone has any information about Josiah or Jon’s whereabouts or saw them en route to Yakima, please contact the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office at (509) 574-2500 and reference Case #19C09726 with Deputy Klise.

To follow Josiah’s case and assist if possible, click like on the Help Bring Josiah Home Facebook page.

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49 Comments
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SHB
Guest
SHB
4 years ago

Josiah is a beautiful soul. Liz has a love for him that knows no bounds.
This hurts my heart.
Holding them both in a space of love and hope.

Karen
Guest
Karen
3 years ago
Reply to  SHB

Hello? I hope this reaches someone. My name is Karen, I live in the Pacific Northwest. My email address is [email protected]. This is not a joke, I may have information regarding the 2 men from California. I submitted a tip to the FBI with no response. Things are shut down up here still.

Tiered of liberals
Guest
Tiered of liberals
4 years ago

[edit]

kevin marsh
Guest
kevin marsh
4 years ago

hey Kym, of all the shit you have barred me from print. Why the fuck you let “tired of liberals” shatter Liz at a time like this, fuck you!

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
4 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

It’s embarrassing to read your critic’s comment given what a loving and caring person you are. Where’s the ignore button when you really need it?

Just kidding. I have a built in ignore button I can push any damn time I want!

DissappointedinKev
Guest
DissappointedinKev
4 years ago
Reply to  kevin marsh

Kevin,
please apologize to Kym.

b.
Guest
b.
4 years ago
Reply to  kevin marsh

Kevin,
Really, do you really want to talk to someone in that tone?
I hope something really good happens in the rest of your day.

Cool
Guest
Cool
4 years ago

It’s great that our local news can give so much coverage to missing people. That couldn’t be done in most counties due to the shear number of missing people.

Z
Guest
Z
4 years ago

“Tiered” You are a heartless human being. Grow a heart!!
The missing boy’s mom is frightened & grieving.
Liz, my heart is with you!!
When I get home I’ll post this article on my Fb pg & ask my friends with 800 Fb friends to also post.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Z

Because pissing people off and hurting people is this trolls game. This poster has posted a lot of bullcrap inthepast and why he’s not permanently banned is beyond me.

Paul
Guest
Paul
4 years ago

Hope these two are found soon. My heart goes out to Ms. Hilderbrand and the other parents. I’ll pray for their safe return. For all of the young folks out traveling, be alert, be safe. Conditions are different than they used to be.

shak
Guest
shak
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Thank you Paul, for expressing what’s in my heart, but I couldn’t find the words to share it. I will pray too, and for a calming peace to overcome the panic and fear so they can get some much needed rest.

Lee
Guest
Lee
4 years ago
Reply to  Paul

I can’t help but think that they likely picked up a hitchhiker – Somebody who said they were going to the shows too possibly and the person did something to them. That’s the only thing that makes any sense at all. It’s very sad and quite disturbing.

Cecilia
Guest
Cecilia
4 years ago

Keeping A lookout in willits /Mendocino county

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

I so hope that this mother gets good news soon. I can’t imagine the horrible stress she must be under.

Sheesh
Guest
4 years ago

I hope hes just on the bus and nothing bad has occured.

Willie Caos-mayham
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳Liz you know I’m always on your side.🖖

Wog
Guest
Wog
4 years ago

Every mother’s fear, the loss of a child. To lose your only child, horrific. I know. My only son died just shy of 26 1.5 years ago.

But to not know where he is or what may have befallen him and his travelling companion must be unbearable every minute of every day.

As I read her words I can feel the pain all over again.

What an amazingly brave strong woman Liz must be. I send my love and positive energy into the ether that he will be found safe.

Peace 💜

Angela Robinson
Guest
Angela Robinson
4 years ago

I wonder where in Yakima County the car was found.

S
Guest
S
4 years ago

Hard to say, I think it’s not being said maybe due to investigation. I asked in a fb group I’m in because I drove to the gorge that weekend from here. I thought if it was abandoned on the hwy maybe one of the 40k deadheads might have seen it so I asked for a pic of the car, but no one would say where it was found.

Angela Robinson
Guest
Angela Robinson
4 years ago
Reply to  S

Thanks for the reply. Good point about the investigation maybe keeping it close to their vest.

I hope for the best and that Liz Hilderbrand is surrounded by love and strength from her friends and loved ones.
.

This guy
Guest
This guy
4 years ago

Hopefully hes on johb mayer tour and will come home soon. I hope the whole dead n co things ends soon. Its so bad.

Conservative Grandma
Guest
Conservative Grandma
4 years ago

I’m so sorry this is happening. I can’t imagine what Liz is going through. Praying that they find these young men.

some peoples children
Guest
some peoples children
4 years ago

went to the gorge to see who?

(~);}
Guest
(~);}
4 years ago

Dead & Company. They were doing tour. I know Jon Cleary was intending with all his might to do the entire tour. Dead Tour is the most important thing to him…although I have known him to skip a show to go hustle. Trimming — hell no—that’s completely ridiculous to assume. (~);}

Ossagon
Guest
Ossagon
4 years ago
Reply to  (~);}

Everybody needs a side hustle when they are on tour.
Do you know what his go to is?

Dragonfly
Guest
Dragonfly
4 years ago

Maybe they got an opportunity to go to a trim scene. Light dep is coming down around now. They possibly could have caught a ride with someone to the job site? They could be trimming away and making $… Out of cellphone range.
Hopefully they’re just being irresponsible and too stoned to call their moms. I was friends with a lot of deadheads in the 90’s .. tons of kids disappeared for weeks at a time only to resurface. ☮️

Keith
Guest
Keith
4 years ago
Reply to  Dragonfly

Sadly that ain’t the case. FBI and homicide have picked up the case. I met Josiah two years ago this is heartbreaking I knew I recognized his face as seen this shared. Praying for the families I lost my best friend June 1st 2011 and telling his mother that someone had done something to him and he was gone still haunts me to this day. No parent should have to burry there child. Much love

Pike Mortar
Guest
Pike Mortar
4 years ago

Is there a trim scene in central Washington? I truly don’t know.

In any case the car was found near their intended destination so I think it pretty unlikely something happened in HumCo and the car just coincidentally wound up in Washington where the two were going to be going anyway. If something happened it pretty obviously happened up there, that’s especially obvious since Yakima Co is handling the missing investigation and not HumCo or Mendo. Hopefully they are just off dicking around and oblivious to the scare mom is getting… but if not, looking for them locally is probably wasted effort.

Lee Richardsonc
Guest
Lee Richardsonc
4 years ago

Ms. Hildebrand, I am so sorry you are having to go through this. I hope Josiah is okay, and you will hear something good shortly. I lost a child who was 10 years old, and I can’t imagine the horror and grief of not knowing what happened to her. Prayers are with you.

HBJH
Guest
HBJH
4 years ago

Thank you so much

Kriss3
Guest
Kriss3
3 years ago
Reply to  HBJH

❤️My heart is with you and all ur families… What a horrible thing to get through keep faith and always remember regardless the outcome he will always be with you…❤️❤️❤️❤️

Lovelight NFA
Guest
Lovelight NFA
4 years ago

LOVE YOU JONNY and Love You too Jo Jo!!! Know and remember that Jonny is loved too–a very special Warrior of Light. Not that he is perfect either, but he is loved fiercely and has an amazing family who is looking for him and scores of friends who cherish him, as well as, Jo.

HBJH
Guest
HBJH
4 years ago
Reply to  Lovelight NFA

I hope they are both found

Tea
Guest
Tea
4 years ago

Liz is one of the most amazing, strong, spirited, focussed, brilliant women I have yet to meet. Her son is a beautiful 25 year old man who is loved beyond measure by his mother. I know this woman will move mountains to find her son. She needs our help. she needs kind words, prayers, and words to feed her fire and keep her burning strong while we figure out where Jo is, and his traveling companion Jon. Friends have started a Go-Fund -Me account to help with the reward money and developing costs as Liz struggles to keep some form of normalcy in her life while she is stuck in Limbo waiting to hear about her child. Please visit the Facebook group and contribute whatever you are able. and again… Your words of support and your prayers and vigilance in sharing the story… Especially with people in the Yakima Area and Dead and Co tour… are so very needed!!!! We all are full of prayers for Jo and Jon! And families!!!!!

HBJH
Guest
HBJH
4 years ago
Reply to  Tea

Thank you so much for your help, love and support

Immigrants eyes
Guest
Immigrants eyes
4 years ago

Guy who’s been hanging out in Willits lately looks like the driver of the car and just two days ago I saw him sitting in front of JD Redhouse when another guy who appears to know him sits down beside him.

HBJH
Guest
HBJH
4 years ago

Please report it to the Mendo Co Sheriff

Notbuyinit
Guest
Notbuyinit
4 years ago

Still praying for a happy ending on this one. Been following since the gorge shows. I’ve shared a bunch of times on Facebook. Praying for good news

brooks
Guest
brooks
4 years ago

They said the car was at 8100 lateral b in toppanish.

Cynthia Sparks
Guest
Cynthia Sparks
4 years ago

I am a Mother in this close circuit for many years. I too have one son Josiahs age. I cannot imagine the pain Liz is traveling through. Please know there are many sisters that do not know you personally however are with you in spirit and hope. Prayers for all 💜

Dr. KaOs
Guest
Dr. KaOs
4 years ago

Sending love and light to Ms. Hildebrand. My son is the same age and I cannot imagine the pain you are in. May all blessings and protection surround your son and his friend and they return home with an interesting adventure story. 💚

Daniele
Guest
Daniele
4 years ago

My son is 24 & this is heartbreaking. I’ve shared this story with my friends & family in Washington from Sequim to Yakima to Pullman. Please tell me there is an update & he was found safe & sound.

Vera Shumard
Guest
Vera Shumard
4 years ago

My heart goes out to you and I pray for the safe return of your son