Brian Andrew Hayes

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Jacksonville Sheriffs Office (FL)

Missing From:

Jacksonville, Florida

Summary:

Bryan Andrew Hayes was a 13-year-old special education student who disappeared from Paxon Middle School in Jacksonville, Florida on February 10, 2005. He vanished along with his best friend, Mark Degner, after the two boys ran out of the school building following an argument with a teacher. Their cases remain unsolved after more than 20 years.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

Bryan Andrew Hayes and his best friend Mark Degner, both special education students at Paxon Middle School, ran out of the building after an argument with a teacher at 1:15 p.m. on February 10, 2005. Bryan was apparently seen getting into a car outside the school, though it was unclear whether Mark was with him at the time. The boys took no extra clothes, money, or belongings—not even their book bags or Bryan's coat. Police initially believed they had run away and were still in the local area, as the boys had told friends of their plans to run away. However, Bryan's prior runaway history was limited to short trips never exceeding a few miles from home and lasting only a day. Mark had no history of running away.

Additional Details:

Bryan was abused as a toddler and placed in foster care, living in several foster homes before being adopted by his grandparents. In October 2004, just months before his disappearance, his grandparents placed him in a therapeutic group home in Jacksonville to address his behavioral problems. Bryan was developmentally delayed, with emotional development of a child three to five years younger than his chronological age. He suffered from bipolar disorder and required daily medication, which he did not have with him when he disappeared. One of his thumbs was broken at the time of disappearance, and he wore a blue cast over his hand and wrist. After weeks passed with no contact from Bryan or Mark, and given their medical problems, authorities announced they were considered endangered and possibly victims of foul play. Their cases remain unsolved, though some agencies continue to classify them as runaways. Age-progressed photos have been released periodically, showing what the boys might look like as adults. There have been a few reported sightings throughout the years, but no confirmed locations.

Case Last Updated:

Nov 09, 2026