Mickey disappeared from San Marcos, California on November 27, 2009. He took his parents' Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV without permission on November 25 and went camping with friends at Anza Borrego State Park off Split Mountain Road. He left the campsite at 3:00 p.m. on November 27, presumably to go home, but never arrived and has never been heard from again. The next day, the SUV was found damaged and stuck in the sand in a remote area of the park, with many of his belongings inside. The keys were in the ignition, but the SUV wasn't in drivable condition; the front bumper and side mirror had been torn off and one of the front wheels was bent. Authorities found no evidence of foul play, suggesting he might have run away, but his family believes he may not be missing voluntarily. In December 2022, hikers discovered some of his clothing near the area where he was last seen, indicating it had been exposed to the elements for a long time.