NORTH COAST, Calif. — Were you in Humboldt County in January 1996?

If so, you may have information that could help solve a 27-year-old missing person’s case.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit is seeking help to solve the disappearance of Scott Paul Hayes.

Hayes was last seen by a roommate on Jan. 8, 1996.

Hayes, who was 19 at the time, told his roommate he was leaving Humboldt County and traveling to Southern California to visit his girlfriend.

Authorities said Hayes reportedly loaded all of his personal property into his maroon Chevrolet Sonoma pickup truck and left.

The following day, Jan. 9, Hayes’ truck was found parked on the edge of the northbound lane of U.S. Highway 101 near Redcrest. His vehicle was locked, and his belongings were still inside.

Later investigations indicated that the truck was out of fuel. No signs of foul play were found at the scene.

During their investigation, detectives located a witness who reportedly saw a man matching the description of Hayes in Redcrest during the early morning hours of Jan. 9.

The man reportedly told the witness that he had run out of gas. The witness gave the man a ride, however, the man reportedly began acting strangely and the witness dropped him off under the Stafford overpass out of fear for their safety.

Authorities said the witness reportedly continued on and retrieved fuel for the man, however, upon returning approximately 10 minutes later to the Stafford location, the man was gone.

An additional witness claimed to have seen Hayes at a motel in Rio Dell. Again, the man was reported to be acting strangely and he was not given a room. The man was reportedly last seen walking northbound on Wildwood Avenue.

Hayes has not been seen or heard from since Jan. 9, 1996, and all leads received by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office thus far have been exhausted.

Scott Hayes was described as a white male adult, approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, 150 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office needs your help to bring closure to Hayes’ family.

Anyone with information regarding Hayes’ whereabouts or who may have seen Hayes that day in 1996 are urged to contact HCSO Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip Line at 707-268-2539.