CHP Investigates Double Homicide in Santa Cruz Mountains
LOS GATOS, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is investigating the deaths of two men discovered in the back of a pickup truck in the Santa Cruz Mountains as a double homicide.
Originally considered suspicious, the case was reclassified by CHP investigators. The pickup truck was towed away on Tuesday afternoon.
One of the victims has been identified as 45-year-old Sean Pfeffer of Boulder Creek. His sister, Nicki Dorris, spoke with Action News 8 from Texas, expressing her grief and shock. “It’s awful just knowing that he was in the back of an abandoned truck and that’s not where obviously the murder was. So somebody had to put him in the back of the truck, you know, Was he alive? I don’t know. I don’t know. It’s just terrible,” she said.
Investigators have not released the cause of death or whether any suspects have been identified. However, a key piece of evidence may be a social media post made by Pfeffer just two days before his body and that of his friend were found off Highway 35, near Castle Rock State Park. The post allegedly hinted at his possible fate and identified a potential suspect. The suspect’s name has been blurred out because authorities have not publicly named anyone.
Local residents have expressed their concerns and shock. “That’s pretty crazy. I don’t know the guys personally or anything, but it’s definitely pretty shocking,” said Zach McKay, a Boulder Creek resident.
Doug Spilman, another Boulder Creek resident, commented on the unusual circumstances, stating, “Well, especially the way it happened, found in the back of a truck that very odd up here. I might have seen something similar 30 years ago. Very odd.”
Pfeffer’s family is desperate for answers. “Nobody deserves this… if Boulder Creek is a close-knit little community, somebody knows something, this needs to be solved so we can have some closure,” Dorris said.
If you have any information regarding this case, the CHP encourages you to call 911 or the CHP in Boulder Creek.
