Overview

Full name: Andrew Scott Ewing

Nickname: Andy

Date of birth: August 1, 1956

Age at disappearance: 20

Date last seen: December 8, 1976

Last known location: Lake Boulevard, Redding, California

City: Redding

County: Shasta County

State: California

Case classification: Endangered Missing

Current case status: Unresolved; no publicly confirmed recovery or resolution located

Investigating agency: Redding Police Department

NamUs identification number: MP9319, identified in historical case references

Circumstances: Ewing left home intending to hitchhike to Sacramento to visit his brother. He did not reach his destination and has not been heard from since.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Andrew Scott Ewing Missing Since 1976: The Unsolved Disappearance of a 20-Year-Old Man in Redding, California

On December 8, 1976, 20-year-old Andrew Scott Ewing left his home in Redding, California, intending to hitchhike to his brother’s residence in Sacramento. He never arrived. Nearly five decades later, his disappearance remains an unresolved missing-person case, with few publicly documented clues explaining what happened after he left home.

Known as “Andy,” Ewing was last seen leaving his residence on Lake Boulevard. He reportedly told his mother where he intended to go, although his brother was not expecting him. Ewing also took a .357 Magnum firearm when he departed. His mother reported him missing on January 10, 1977.

The case is classified as endangered missing, and publicly available records provide no confirmed explanation for his disappearance. His story remains an important part of California’s long-standing missing-person investigations. (The Charley Project)

Case Summary

• Full name: Andrew Scott Ewing
• Nickname: Andy
• Date of birth: August 1, 1956
• Age at disappearance: 20
• Date last seen: December 8, 1976
• Last known location: Lake Boulevard, Redding, California
• City: Redding
• County: Shasta County
• State: California
• Case classification: Endangered Missing
• Current case status: Unresolved; no publicly confirmed recovery or resolution located
• Investigating agency: Redding Police Department
• NamUs identification number: MP9319, identified in historical case references
• Circumstances: Ewing left home intending to hitchhike to Sacramento to visit his brother. He did not reach his destination and has not been heard from since.

Source: Andrew Scott Ewing – The Charley Project.

Andrew Scott Ewing’s Background and Personal Description

Andrew Scott Ewing was born on August 1, 1956. He was 20 years old when he disappeared from Redding, a Northern California city in Shasta County.

Although little publicly verified information is available about his childhood, education, employment, or personal relationships, missing-person records preserve several identifying details that could be important if someone recognizes him or encounters records potentially connected to his disappearance.

At the time he went missing, Ewing was described as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 145 pounds. He had black hair, blue eyes, and long hair that extended to the middle of his back.

His distinguishing physical characteristics included a scar approximately one to one-and-a-half inches long on his forehead, a surgical scar on his right knee, and several moles. His missing-person description also noted a thin or gaunt appearance, prominent eyes with redness around them, and a pale complexion.

He was reportedly wearing blue jeans when he disappeared. Other clothing details have not been publicly established.

The Charley Project states that Ewing may have experienced mental health difficulties and could have needed medical attention. The available information does not establish a specific diagnosis or demonstrate that a medical condition caused his disappearance.

These characteristics come from his published missing-person profile and should be understood as descriptions from 1976 rather than necessarily reflecting his appearance in later life. (The Charley Project)

December 8, 1976: The Day Andrew Ewing Disappeared

On December 8, 1976, Ewing was at his residence on Lake Boulevard in Redding.

According to the available case account, he told his mother that he planned to hitchhike to Sacramento, where his brother lived. Sacramento lies south of Redding, making the intended journey an intercity trip through Northern California.

His brother reportedly had not been expecting a visit.

Before leaving, Ewing took a .357 Magnum firearm. The available case summary does not explain why he carried the weapon or what happened to it afterward.

The presence of the firearm is a documented circumstance, but it is not evidence by itself that Ewing intended to harm himself or another person, or that a violent crime occurred.

After departing his home, Ewing never arrived at his brother’s residence. No subsequent confirmed communication or sighting is identified in the publicly available case account.

It remains unclear whether he obtained a ride, which route he followed, whether he reached Sacramento, or whether something happened before he left the Redding area.

The precise time he left home is not publicly established in the reviewed material.

On January 10, 1977, approximately one month after his disappearance, Ewing’s mother formally reported him missing.

The published account does not explain the reason for the interval between his disappearance and the missing-person report. It would therefore be inappropriate to draw conclusions about the family’s actions or what they knew during that period.

Source: Andrew Scott Ewing Case Profile.

Investigation History and Available Evidence

The Redding Police Department Investigation

The Redding Police Department is identified as the investigating agency in Ewing’s published missing-person profile.

The central facts available to investigators include his last known location, intended destination, family-reported travel plans, identifying physical characteristics, and the firearm he reportedly carried.

However, the publicly accessible case summary contains very limited information about the original investigation.

No detailed account was located establishing the scope of early searches, specific interviews conducted, or any verified physical evidence recovered.

The absence of these details from public records does not establish that investigators failed to pursue them. It means their existence, results, and significance cannot be independently described from the sources reviewed.

The Intended Hitchhiking Journey

Ewing’s plan to hitchhike between Redding and Sacramento is one of the most important documented aspects of his disappearance.

If he attempted the journey, he may have encountered motorists or other travelers. However, no verified witness account describing a driver who picked him up was located.

There is also no confirmed public account establishing that he was seen at a bus terminal, service station, highway rest area, or other location after leaving home.

Consequently, the exact point at which Ewing disappeared remains unknown.

Physical and Forensic Evidence

The publicly available case account does not identify recovered clothing, the missing firearm, a vehicle, personal belongings, or forensic material conclusively connected to Ewing’s disappearance.

No publicly confirmed DNA identification, genetic genealogy result, or match to unidentified remains was located in the reviewed sources.

California’s Department of Justice maintains a Missing Persons DNA Program that can assist in comparing unidentified remains with missing-person reference material. However, the existence of that program does not establish that Ewing’s case has undergone a particular DNA test or forensic review. (California Department of Justice – Missing Persons)

Missing-Person Databases and Public Awareness

Ewing’s disappearance has been documented through the Charley Project and referenced under NamUs number MP9319.

His case has also received attention in missing-person discussion communities, including a Websleuths thread created on March 25, 2019.

That discussion reproduced established case details and helped circulate information about his disappearance. It is not evidence of a new investigative discovery. (Websleuths – Andrew Scott Ewing)

Theories and Unresolved Questions

There is no publicly verified explanation for what happened to Andrew Scott Ewing. Several possibilities may be considered when examining the circumstances, but none should be treated as an established investigative conclusion.

Did Something Happen During His Journey?

Because Ewing reportedly intended to hitchhike, one possibility is that he encountered an accident, became stranded, or experienced another emergency while traveling.

Another possibility is that he encountered someone who harmed him.

Neither scenario is supported by a confirmed witness account or publicly disclosed physical evidence in the reviewed material.

Did Ewing Leave Voluntarily?

Ewing apparently left his home voluntarily and communicated an intended destination to his mother.

However, voluntarily leaving home does not establish that a person intended to disappear permanently.

No verified evidence was located showing that he established a new identity, relocated elsewhere, or deliberately ended contact with his family.

Could a Medical Emergency Have Occurred?

His missing-person profile indicates that he may have needed medical attention.

A medical or psychological emergency is therefore a possibility worth distinguishing from confirmed evidence. There is no public information establishing that such an emergency occurred or that it caused his disappearance.

Was He the Victim of a Crime?

Foul play cannot be ruled out solely from the known circumstances, but it has not been publicly established.

No verified suspect, arrest, criminal charge, or homicide determination was located in connection with Ewing’s disappearance.

The case should continue to be described as an endangered missing-person investigation rather than a confirmed homicide.

Key Questions That Remain Unanswered

Several questions remain central to understanding the case:

• Did anyone see Ewing after he left his Lake Boulevard residence?
• Did he obtain a ride toward Sacramento?
• Did he reach any part of his intended destination?
• What happened to the firearm he reportedly carried?
• Were there unidentified remains or unidentified-person reports that investigators examined as possible matches?
• Are any original witness statements or investigative records available that could clarify his movements?

These are unresolved questions, not indications that investigators have established particular events or identified responsible individuals.

Latest Publicly Available Investigative Updates — October 2026

As of October 18, 2026, no publicly confirmed recent investigative breakthroughs were located concerning Andrew Scott Ewing’s disappearance.

The Charley Project continues to provide the principal publicly accessible narrative of his case. Its profile identifies August 27, 2011, as its last recorded update, which should not be interpreted as the date of the last police investigation.

The following distinctions are important:

• DNA and genetic genealogy: No publicly confirmed case-specific testing results or identifications were located.
• Recovered remains: No verified announcement establishing that Ewing’s remains have been recovered was located.
• Suspects and arrests: No officially identified suspect, arrest, or criminal proceeding was found in the reviewed sources.
• Cold-case review: No recent case-specific reopening, review announcement, or investigative breakthrough was verified.
• Public awareness: His disappearance continues to appear in missing-person resources and online discussions, including a January 31, 2025, Reddit awareness post. That post repeated historical case information and did not establish a new investigative development.

The Redding Police Department publishes information about missing-person investigations and certain cold cases, but no new public announcement specifically resolving Ewing’s disappearance was located. (Redding Police Department)

A lack of recent public announcements does not necessarily mean that law enforcement has stopped investigating or reviewing the case. Investigative work can occur without public disclosure.

Conclusion: Remembering Andrew Scott Ewing and the Search for Answers

Andrew Scott Ewing was only 20 years old when he left his Redding home on December 8, 1976.

He had told his mother that he planned to travel to Sacramento to visit his brother. What happened after he departed remains unknown.

His disappearance has endured for nearly 50 years, leaving unanswered questions about his journey, his safety, and his ultimate fate.

Although the surviving public record is limited, his physical description, distinctive scars, last known location, and intended destination remain potentially useful details.

Anyone who remembers encountering a young man matching Ewing’s description in Northern California during December 1976, or who possesses information about his whereabouts afterward, is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department.

Information that seems insignificant may still help investigators establish a timeline or evaluate an old lead. Members of the public should provide information directly to authorities rather than approach individuals or investigate possible suspects themselves.

Redding Police Department: (530) 225-4280, the contact number published in Ewing’s missing-person profile and confirmed on the department’s official Services Division page.

California Missing Persons Hotline: 1-800-222-FIND (1-800-222-3463).

Andrew Scott Ewing’s case remains unresolved in the publicly available information reviewed. Until reliable evidence establishes what happened, his disappearance deserves to be remembered as an unanswered missing-person case, not a confirmed homicide.