The tragic fate of three hikers who went missing on Southern California's Mt. Baldy has been confirmed. According to an update from the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department on January 3rd, three deceased males were retrieved from the mountain. On January 2, 2026, two of the hikers were positively identified as Juan Sarat Lopez and Bayron Pedro Ramos Garcia, who were Guatemalan nationals residing in Los Angeles. It is believed they fell from the notorious Devil’s Backbone Trail on the day they were found.
A third hiker, earlier identified as Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, was a 19-year-old resident of Seal Beach, CA. His cause of death is still pending further investigation. The tragic news follows efforts of rescue teams, which included the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team and the Fontana Sheriff’s Station, who responded to the initial call on December 29, 2025, about an injured hiker. A friend had hiked out to find cellular service and provided GPS coordinates for the rescue teams.
The initial report of an injured hiker at Mt. Baldy prompted search operations in treacherous conditions, heightened by a rare winter storm that hit Southern California the week prior, as Hoodline reported. The call for the search came in at about 11:30 a.m. on a Monday, indicating there was a potentially injured hiker who was not alone.
The areas, known for its winter hiking dangers, have been the subject of numerous rescues and tragedies - including the death of actor Julian Sands in 2023, and a woman who survived four nights in 2024 after a significant fall. Helicopter crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department were among the first to respond to the emergency calls, as was mentioned in a statement obtained by CBS LA per Hoodline.
Despite the valiant efforts by the rescue teams, severe winds prevented a safe recovery operation, ultimately resulting in a sobering outcome. The Sheriff-Coroner's department continues to encourage anyone with information to contact the Fontana Sheriff’s Station. Meanwhile, the community extends its support to the family and friends of the lost hikers amidst another tragic reminder of Mt. Baldy's harsh landscape and its unforgiving nature.
