Santa Clara University Student Found Dead on Mount Baldy

Mount Baldy, the highest peak at the left, as seen from Chinatown near downtown Los Angeles, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

A Santa Clara University student was among three hikers found dead earlier this week on Mount Baldy in Los Angeles County, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.

19-year-old Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova ’29, a business student at Santa Clara University, was identified by the Sheriff’s Department. 

Casanova, a Seal Beach resident, was found Monday near Devil’s Backbone, a narrow and exposed trail on Mount Baldy. Dangerous winds delayed recovery efforts until Tuesday.

Casanova reportedly fell approximately 500 feet, according to a report by the Sheriff's Department. The mountain itself stands at over 10,000 feet, marking it as the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains to the northeast of Los Angeles.

In a statement released Wednesday, Casanova’s family described him as “an incredibly sweet and empathetic young man.” The family said he was an avid sailor and outdoorsman, and asked for privacy as they grieve.

The deaths prompted the U.S. Forest Service to temporarily close trails on Mount Baldy, citing dangerous and unpredictable conditions.