Lance Perkins was last seen in San Diego, California, on October 23, 2016. He lived in Anaheim but had traveled to San Diego for work to cover Casa De Las Calaveras, an event coinciding with the annual Day of the Dead celebration. On the night of his disappearance, Lance called 911, reporting blackouts. He had experienced health issues before, and his mother advised him to seek medical attention. He was transported by ambulance from his hotel to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest. Hospital records are unclear, but reports indicate he waited three hours in the emergency room. Some accounts suggest he left out of frustration, while others state he was officially discharged. Due to privacy laws, the exact details remain unknown. Surveillance footage captured Lance walking out of the hospital, but he never returned to his hotel and did not contact his mother again. In the hours after leaving, he made multiple 911 calls and attempted to reach two friends around 4:00 a.m. Neither friend answered, and he did not leave any messages.