August Beckwith, 29, a nonverbal man with autism, went missing again on Dec. 15 after being discharged from a hospital. He was last seen near State Street and 2nd Avenue in Salt Lake City without shoes, phone, money or credit card and is considered a vulnerable adult. The Salt Lake City Police Department is leading the search and the family has asked the public to help. The National Autism Association says wandering/elopement is common in autism and often linked to anxiety and transitions.
After Monthlong Disappearance, Man With Autism Goes Missing Again — Family, Police Plead For Help
National Autism AssociationAugust Beckwith.
August Beckwith, 29, a nonverbal man with autism, went missing again on Dec. 15 shortly after being discharged from a hospital, his family says. His mother, Lori Beckwith, warned that he was last seen near State Street and 2nd Avenue in Salt Lake City and is without shoes, a phone, money or a credit card — making him a vulnerable adult.
What Happened
August initially disappeared on Nov. 17 and was last observed in Salt Lake City’s Sugarhouse neighborhood a few days later. During that first episode he was described by the National Autism Association as nonverbal and "experiencing a severe mental health crisis," which left him extremely vulnerable and unable to seek help.
Recent Timeline
On Dec. 10 a community member reported seeing August at Apollo Burger in Taylorsville and requested a welfare check. Police used a fingerprint scanner to identify him, and the Utah Department of Public Safety announced that August had been reunited with his mother on Dec. 11. Within days of being discharged from the hospital, however, Lori says August disappeared again on Dec. 15.
National Autism AssociationAugust Beckwith.
"After weeks missing and then hospitalization, August disappeared shortly after discharge on Dec. 15, last seen near State Street and 2nd Avenue," Lori Beckwith wrote on Facebook. "He has no shoes, no phone, no money, and no credit card, and is considered a vulnerable adult."
Community Appeal and Police Response
The Salt Lake City Police Department is leading the investigation and Lori has asked the public to join organized searches and to contact police with any tips. Det. Michael Ruff urged anyone with information to call the department’s non-emergency number at 801-799-3000.
Lori has emphasized that transitions — such as leaving a hospital — can be especially dangerous for individuals with autism and trauma, and requested compassion rather than judgment. She also publicly thanked members of Salt Lake City’s homeless community for providing care to August during his prior disappearance, saying their kindness likely helped keep him alive.
Context on Wandering and Elopement
The National Autism Association notes that wandering or elopement is a common behavior among some people with autism. These behaviors are often a form of communication — an attempt to reach something of interest or to escape something distressing (noise, commotion, fears or demands) — and can increase with anxiety or difficulty regulating emotions.
If you have information about August’s whereabouts, contact Salt Lake City Police non-emergency at 801-799-3000. If you or someone you know needs immediate mental health support, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected with a certified crisis counselor.
