(NewsNation) — The family of a missing autistic man is hoping that, despite not knowing his own address, he will find his way home to them after months of searching.

Jonathan Hoang was often at the center of lighthearted moments in his family’s home, especially during birthdays. But now, his mother waits for news that her middle child has been located.

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Jonathan Hoang was diagnosed with autism

Hoang, 21, is diagnosed with autism, and his social circle doesn’t extend past his tight-knit family.

His father, Thao Hoang, said the young adult mainly walks in the area around the home.

“He really doesn’t socialize much. He does his daily walk every day from our house up to the school bus stop and back,” he said. “It’s about a mile round trip, and he does that about 3 to 6 times a day.”

Jonathan Hoang’s autism meant he required extra support since childhood. He had aides to help him at school and comforting routines to help him destress at home in Arlington, Washington, just north of Seattle.

“He’s not capable of doing things like preparing and cooking himself a meal, or going to a store and following a shopping list, getting groceries and then paying for it with cash,” said sister Irene Pfister. “He wouldn’t have the executive functioning for that.”

Sometimes people with autism do run off and disappear, but Hoang was never one of them.

“He kept to a routine and he asks permission to do most anything, whether it’s going for a walk or even to get a drink of water. He would ask for permission,” Pfister said.

Jonathan Hoang disappears

That’s why what happened between Hoang’s bedtime at 7:30 on Sunday, March 30, 2025, and the next morning was instantly distressing.

“I was already at work, and then my wife called about 6:38 a.m. and said, ‘Hey, did you take Jonathan to school?'” Thao Hoang said.

Pfister also heard from her mother.

“She sounded frightened and said, ‘Jonathan’s missing.’ She said, ‘I can’t find him anywhere’ and she said, ‘Should I call the police?'” Pfister said. “I said, yes, call the police.”

The family immediately began searching for clues to see if they could gain any insight into what had happened. They looked for Jonathan Hoang’s wallet, IDs, cash and favorite jacket.

“Because if he went anywhere, he would have his jacket,” Thao Hoang said. “So he didn’t have his favorite jacket on, doesn’t have his beanie and doesn’t have his shoes. Everything was still at home. He didn’t bring his wallet, his IDs were at home, his passports were at home, and he had cash that he saved in a little piggy bank. That’s all here.”

The family found a lower-level door unlocked. Jonathan Hoang’s mother’s gardening shoes were missing and so was his iPad.

“That was another thing that made me really sick when my mom told me, because a lot of people with autism use iPads to self-regulate, but he never took that iPad out of the house,” Pfister said.

Frustrations with local law enforcement

The Hoang family hired a private investigator, Adley Shepherd, to look into Hoang’s disappearance. Shepherd shares their growing concerns about the commitment deputies are making to the case.

Shepherd has turned down several interviews about the case in the past.

“The only reason I’m doing this is because I see no other way to actually get the attention this case needs,” he told NewsNation.

The sheriff’s office has made multiple posts and alerts detailing “an extensive six-day effort involving 150 searchers, drones, a helicopter and K9 teams.”

However, the family has questions, including why the deputies aren’t considering the possibility that the case could be a criminal investigation, rather than just a missing person case.

In a tense, nearly two-hour-long meeting with the sheriff and her team, the family pushed to preserve Jonathan Hoang’s digital trail.

They say his iPad connected to the network once, days after he went missing.

“The person who’s in possession of the iPad knows where Jonathan is or they have information that needs to be investigated,” Shepherd said.

The sheriff’s office said the lead detective spoke to an Apple representative who could not confirm a login or any other activity from that iPad.

“One of your deputies or your sheriffs told my mother, oh, he can go off and start a new life if he wants, and he’ll probably come home with a wife and two kids and a beard, and you’ll have a good laugh about it,” Pfister said.

A community helps search for Jonathan Hoang

The community is taking the Hoang family’s pain quite seriously, fanning out in search parties, posting flyers and turning to faith.

The last video of Jonathan Hoang shows his routine walk, one where he returned safely home.

For now, his family waits, knowing the young man who still waits eagerly for Santa Claus each year would never leave the safety of his home on his own.

“Someone had to have taken him, someone had to have told him he needed to leave,” Pfister said.

For Thao Hoang, his world has been shattered with the loss of his son.

“We know he’s very special and maybe that’s why the people took him, because he’s very special, but we love him and he needs to grow and mature the way he wants to be within a family that’s going to love him and take care of him,” Hoang said.

Jonathan Hoang was due to complete a special program that helps adults with special needs acquire life skills. He was worried he’d have to leave the family home, but his father assured him he was welcome to stay, always.