Missing 76-Year-Old Oceanside Man's Vehicle Found Abandoned In Antelope Valley

LANCASTER (CBSLA.com)  —  A vehicle belonging to a missing 76-year-old Oceanside man has turned up in the Antelope Valley, authorities said.

A Lancaster Sheriff's Station deputy on patrol Wednesday noticed an abandoned car in the area of 155th Street East and Avenue H-6 around 10 a.m.

The deputy found the abandoned car -- a black 2015 Honda Civic -- locked and stuck in the soft sand in an area not visible from the road.

A check of the license plate showed the car belonged to Nikolaos Christidis, an Oceanside man last seen on July 22.

On rhe 22nd his daughter found a note that said, "I will not be home until late, Nick." The next day, his family reached him by cell and he said he was in Escondido and would be home in about 15 minutes. After a follow-up call, the missing man said he was in the desert and would be home in an hour. A third call was placed when he failed to return and he hasn't been heard from since. Subsequent calls went straight to voice mail.

Christidis -- who reportedly suffers from dementia - remains missing following an air and ground search. The LA Sheriff's Antelope Valley Search and Rescue Team was also employed and the team is assisting in the search on foot and with off road vehicles.

Oceanside Police investigators also came to the scene to assist.

His family said Christidis frequents Lake Elsinore, La Jolla beaches, SeaWorld and Safari Park.

The missing man is about 5 feet 7 inches tall, 175 pounds with gray hair and brown yes.

Anyone who has seen Christidis is asked to call Oceanside Police Department Lieutenant Aaron Doyle at (760) 435-4694 or Detective Karla Williams at (760) 435-4771.