Desperate Times Call for Bigger Rewards: The Leming Family’s Ongoing Search for Austin

It’s been more than three years since Austin Leming vanished from an apartment complex in Kent, Washington, and his family isn’t letting that stop them. In a heartfelt and proactive move, they’ve upped the reward for any information about Austin’s whereabouts to an eye-popping $31,000. That’s right—a cool thirty-one grand for anyone who can help bring him home! Talk about raising the stakes on your missing person reward fund—forget the usual $1,000 ads, this family is serious about finding their loved one.

Austin’s mother, Karen Leming, is feeling the weight of this long and painful journey. She suspects foul play in Austin’s disappearance and is wearing her heart on her sleeve as she holds honk-and-wave events to maintain awareness and community support. After all, who wouldn’t honk for a noble cause—even if it’s just to distract yourself from the news? The idea of launching a GoFundMe page to boost the reward might sound like something one does for a school project, but for the Lemings, it’s about finding a son and restoring hope. And let’s be honest, we could all use a little hope!

Karen is a powerhouse, even planting a memorial tree and bench for Austin to serve as a space for her and family to gather and reflect. That’s some strength there—no pun intended. As they keep their faith alive, they’re also reminding everyone that tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers. So, as Karen says, the search doesn’t stop because the clock is ticking and every little bit counts. Now, here’s a thought for discussion: What would you do if you were in Karen’s shoes? Would you up the ante even more or go for a different strategy?

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