Coroner’s investigators on Wednesday, Dec. 31, identified one of the three hikers found dead on Mt. Baldy earlier this week as a 19-year-old from Seal Beach.
Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova fell an estimated 500 feet down near Devil’s Backbone while hiking with a friend on Monday, sheriff’s officials said. His friend called for help and provided GPS coordinates to authorities.
Rescuers looking for Casanova also discovered the bodies of two men near him. The other two men weren’t hiking with Casanova and have not been identified yet. It wasn’t clear when they fell.
Windy conditions prevented helicopters from recovering the three bodies on Monday. The bodies were retrieved Tuesday.
“We are destroyed by the loss of our beloved Marcus. He was a graduate of Los Alamitos High, a freshman at Santa Clara University’s business school, and an avid outdoorsman,” according to a statement from his family.
“More importantly, he was an incredibly sweet and empathetic young man that will be missed sorely by many. It is difficult to explain the pain and anguish we are going through and ask for privacy as we try to find our way. “
Her son was home for the holidays, his mother, Fabiana Muench Casanova, said.
“He was the light in our lives. He was the most sweetest boy,” she said.
The 19-year-old was an outdoorsman.
“Sailor, surfer, hiker. He was super active,” Fabiana Casanova said
Her son went hiking with his best friend on Monday, she said, adding he had a GPS on him.
After he fell, his friend ran down the mountain to get help, she added.
Related Posts:
- Seal Beach man identified as one of 3 hikers who died on Mt. Baldy News Coroner’s investigators on Wednesday, Dec. 31, identified one of the three hikers found dead on Mt. Baldy earlier this week as a 19-year-old from Seal Beach. Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova fell an estimated 500 feet down near Devil’s Backbone while hiking with a friend on Monday, sheriff’s officials said. His…
- 3 hikers found dead on Mt. Baldy amid harsh weather that thwarted rescue efforts, officials say News Three men who were reported missing this week while hiking on Mt. Baldy have been found dead amid harsh weather conditions that have prevented authorities from recovering their bodies, officials said Tuesday. On Monday, Dec. 29 at about 11:30 a.m., rescuers with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and the Fontana…
- Woman swept into the ocean at Mendocino County beach identified News Authorities have identified the elderly woman who died after being swept into the ocean by a large wave at MacKerricher State Park last week. The woman was identified as Diane L. Wittig, a 77-year-old Fort Bragg resident, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Monday. Deputies…
- Woman swept into the ocean at Mendocino County beach identified News Authorities have identified the elderly woman who died after being swept into the ocean by a large wave at MacKerricher State Park last week. The woman was identified as Diane L. Wittig, a 77-year-old Fort Bragg resident, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Monday. Deputies…
- 3 hikers found dead on California mountain amid harsh weather that thwarted rescue efforts, officials say News A teen has died after a fall while hiking on Mt. Baldy, and two other hikers were found dead nearby amid harsh weather conditions that have prevented authorities from recovering their bodies, officials said Tuesday. On Monday, Dec. 29 at about 11:30 a.m., rescuers with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)