Family Identifies One of Two Men Found Dead in Santa Cruz Mountains
LOS GATOS, Calif. — A family member has identified one of the two men found dead in an abandoned pickup truck in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Tuesday.
One of the victims has been identified as 45-year-old Sean Pfeffer of Boulder Creek. His sister identified him earlier in the day. She also stated that the other victim found was a friend of her brother.
The bodies were discovered along Highway 35 near Castle Rock State Park. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is treating the deaths as suspicious.
The Santa Clara Medical Examiner has stated that a cause of death has not yet been determined and that the identities of the deceased would not be released at this time.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths, which were discovered in a remote area of Skyline Boulevard.
In a statement, the CHP said the investigation is active and ongoing. A CHP representative stated that the deaths, which were not witnessed, are coded as suspicious until an autopsy can confirm the cause and manner of death. Should the autopsy results indicate something more, the CHP plans to follow any investigative leads.
The discovery has raised questions, given the relative popularity of Castle Rock State Park with hikers and the lack of any visible surveillance cameras in the area.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the cause of death and other details of the case.
