SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CA – Three hikers were discovered dead on Southern California’s Mount Baldy during a search-and-rescue operation, with severe winds preventing helicopter crews from recovering the bodies for hours.
The tragic discovery occurred Monday, December 30, when rescue teams responded to a report of a hiker who had fallen approximately 500 feet near the treacherous Devil’s Backbone trail.
Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, 19, of Seal Beach, California, was identified as one of the deceased. A Los Alamitos High School graduate and freshman at Santa Clara University studying business, Casanova was remembered by his family as “an incredibly sweet and empathetic young man” who was “an avid sailor and outdoorsman.”
The search began Monday afternoon after a friend hiking with Casanova made his way to an area with cell service and provided GPS coordinates to rescuers. During an aerial search, deputies located Casanova’s body along with two unidentified male hikers nearby.
Severe winds prevented helicopter rescue efforts throughout the day and into the evening. Late Monday, an air medic was finally able to confirm all three individuals were deceased. Recovery of the bodies continued Tuesday after conditions improved.
In response to the tragedy, authorities have closed seven trails on Mount Baldy, including the Devil’s Backbone, through January 7 at 11:59 p.m. local time. Violators face fines up to $5,000 and potential imprisonment of up to six months.
“Our primary responsibility is the preservation of life,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus stated in announcing the closures.
The identities of the other two hikers have not been released. It remains unclear whether the three knew each other or encountered the same hazardous conditions separately.
