Betsy Shepard

But searchers do spot some footprints on the mountain where Ajay told people he was going.

So Ajay's captain, Mike Bauer, takes to the skies to see where they lead.

Bighorn is a mine on top of the mountain, left over from the gold rush days.

Its entrance has been welded shut to keep out hikers.

And when the helicopter lands 90s action movie style, Bauer's crew finds no signs of a break-in.

Ajay's reported missing late Thursday night.

By the end of the day Sunday, the Sheriff's Department kicks things into high gear.

They call in the U.S.

Army and Air Force, along with the LASD heavy hitters.

It's a specialized squad called Emergency Services Detail, or ESD.

Dave Rathbun was one of the ESD members sent out to search for Ajay.

ESD deputies are equipped to handle all types of emergency scenarios.

But it wasn't just the rocky ledges and wild animals they had to worry about here.

The area was full of all kinds of criminal activity.

Rathbun and his team of searchers come to the punch bowl, armed and ready for action.

Because maybe Ajay isn't lost or injured or running for the hills.

Maybe he's the victim of foul play.

The command post doesn't expand on why they thought Ajay may have been taken out by meth-related violence.

But to Rathbun, this theory doesn't sound too far-fetched.

Because the Antelope Valley is isolated, outlawish, and on account of its size, difficult to police.