Abandoned Car Found Ablaze : Two Thousand Oaks Students Disappear

Two college students from Thousand Oaks have been reported missing amid suspicious circumstances, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.

Brian Harris, 20, an English major at California State University, Northridge, and his girlfriend, Michelle Ann Boyd, who is studying psychology at UCLA, were last seen about 11 p.m. Monday as they left Boyd’s Westwood apartment after watching television together, said Harris’ mother, Mary Harris.

Brian’s 1981 Honda Civic was found Tuesday morning after it was set on fire behind a Western Auto store at 1669 E. Florence Ave. in South Los Angeles.

Noticed Car in Alley

Store manager James Shubsda said he had noticed the car in the alley behind the store as he arrived for work. A short time later, Shubsda said, he heard a “large boom, like an explosion.”

He ran outside and found the inside of the car in flames, but saw no one around. Inside were Harris’ wallet and identification, a Spanish textbook, class notes and other materials, Shubsda said.

Sgt. Ron Moya of the Sheriff’s Department arson squad said the fire was deliberately set but declined to elaborate. He said there were no suspects.

Nothing Negative on 2

Warren Haines, a detective with Los Angeles Police Department’s missing persons detail, said there was nothing “to indicate that these kids were anything but outstanding people.”

Haines said police in the area where Harris’ car was found were notified and pictures of the two missing people were distributed. No formal search of the area was conducted, he said.

‘Never Stayed Out’

Brian, who lived with his parents in Thousand Oaks, “has never stayed out the night without calling us,” Mary Harris said. “Michelle was equally responsible,” she added.

Boyd had just begun classes at UCLA on Monday, said her father, Michael Boyd. “She was very upbeat and happy with her classes,” he said.

Boyd said his daughter and Brian met last summer in a Thousand Oaks record store where both held part-time jobs.

Brian is described as a Caucasian with brown hair and greenish eyes who is 5-foot-5 and weighs 125 pounds. When last seen he was wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt of unknown color.

Michelle is Caucasian, blonde, blue-eyed, 5-foot-4, and weighs 110 pounds. She was wearing a pink shirt and pink pants when last seen.

Parents’ Inquiry

Christine Boyd, Michelle’s mother, said she, her husband and Brian’s parents went to the auto parts store and the Police Department together to gather any information they could on their children’s whereabouts, but came up with little.

“We went to the store and tried to talk to people,” she said, “but there’s nothing new.”