Missing
William John Cierzan
William, approximately 2017; Daniel Cierzan
Date and time person was reported missing : 01/26/2017
Missing location (approx) :
Saugus, California
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
White
DOB : 05/15/1958 (63)
Age at the time of disappearance: 58 years old
Height / Weight : 5'8, 190 pounds
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Caucasian male. Gray hair, brown eyes. William's nickname is Will.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : William was last seen at his home near the intersection of Seco Canyon Road and Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus, California on January 26, 2017. He was watching television with his teenAge at the time of disappearance: nephew, Daniel Cierzan, that day. At around noon, William and Daniel went to a nearby convenience store to buy beer, then returned to the house. He called his wife between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. and they spoke about plans for the evening.
His wife arrived home at 7:00 p.m. and her husband was gone. A chicken dinner had been prepared, the dog was still in the house, and William had left left his his vehicle, jacket, keys, cellular phone, wallet, credit cards and money behind. There was blood inside and outside the home, and DNA later proved it was William's.
When William's wife asked Daniel about that day, Daniel said he had left the house at around 1:30 p.m. and he didn't know what happened to William after that. However, surveillance video from a neighbor's residence showed a vehicle similar to Daniel's backing into William's driveway at 5:00 p.m. on the day William disappeared. The car drove away about five minutes later.
In July 2020, Daniel Cierzan was arrested and charged with his uncle's murder. He had been a named person of interest in the case since 2017, due to his contradicting statements and the fact that he was the last person to see William. A photo of him is posted with this case summary. William had never had children of his own and he and Daniel were very close; Daniel was like a son to him.
Little information has been released about the evidence against Daniel, but authorities stated William's body has not been found. Foul play is suspected in his case due to the circumstances involved.
Other information and links : ncy
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Santa Clarita Valley
818-984-0630
September 2021 updates and sources
California Attorney General's Office
SCV News
Facebook pageheader for William Cierzan
CrimeWatch Daily
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
