Search continues for 19-year-old missing since last Monday

The family of Ashton Broderick Castle and Graham Police Department are continuing their search for the 19-year-old who went missing last Monday in Graham.

Castle, 19, of Graham, is 5’7” and 147 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. He left his home in the 100 block of Fawn Trail at around 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 22 in a 2001 tan Nissan Frontier with the Texas license plate TWB3422.

Ashton’s stepmother, Amber Rathmell Castle, has been providing updates regarding details of the case. She said in a social media post that his license plate was pinged Monday, April 22 at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport terminal D around three hours after leaving Graham.

“We were able to get the info that he flew on Spirit Airline from DFW to Las Vegas. From there he flew to Charleston, South Carolina. At this point we do not know anything else,” Amber said Saturday, April 27. “We have called our phone service provider. They say they do not have call logs because they are considered prepaid. …We are still working very hard to find more info.”

His stepmother said that the family visited with a Graham Police Department investigator Monday, April 29 and provided several details to help in the search. She said Ashton may have flown out of DFW at 11:36 p.m. April 22 with no bags, arrived at Las Vegas at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 23 and then left at 8:39 a.m. and arrived at Charleston, South Carolina at 4:11 p.m. with luggage.

She added that she was not certain he was on those flights or if his truck was at the airport, but hopes that and more can be discovered by GPD.

“We hope the investigator can learn: Who purchased his ticket? Ashton has no debit or credit cards (and) no new ones even that show on his credit reports. You cannot buy tickets with cash,” she said. “Why did he leave DFW with no baggage and leave Vegas with added baggage? Spirit makes you check anything that is larger than a purse or laptop case. And why have they not pinged his phone?”

Amber made a post on social media Friday, April 26 stating that Ashton is hearing impaired and classified as deaf.

“He wears a Cochlear bone conduction implant for hearing aid. He has dyspraxia; difficulty in performing coordinated movements (developmental coordination disorder),” she said. “Our biggest concern is for his safety. He has been experiencing some mental imbalances including potential for self harm. He doesn’t do drugs or drink alcohol. He is an intelligent young man with a loving heart with grand ideas. Please if anyone sees or hears anything we just need to know he’s safe.”

Castle has not been in touch with family or friends and was entered in as a missing person once his case was reported April 23. According to GPD, there is no foul play suspected at this time.

Those with information about Castle’s whereabouts can contact GPD Lieutenant Kyle Ford at 940-549-6441, or after work hours at 940-549-1212.