Man who died in Mt. Baldy fall was home for the holidays, freshman at Santa Clara University

Coroner’s investigators on Wednesday, Dec. 31, identified one of the three hikers found dead on Mt. Baldy earlier this week as a 19-year-old from Seal Beach.

Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova fell an estimated 500 feet down near Devil’s Backbone while hiking with a friend on Monday, sheriff’s officials said. His friend called for help and provided GPS coordinates to authorities.

Rescuers looking for Casanova also discovered the bodies of two men near him. The other two men weren’t hiking with Casanova and have not been identified yet. It wasn’t clear when they fell.

Windy conditions prevented helicopters from recovering the three bodies on Monday. The bodies were retrieved Tuesday.

“We are destroyed by the loss of our beloved Marcus. He was a graduate of Los Alamitos High, a freshman at Santa Clara University’s business school, and an avid outdoorsman,” according to a statement from his family.

“More importantly, he was an incredibly sweet and empathetic young man that will be missed sorely by many. It is difficult to explain the pain and anguish we are going through and ask for privacy as we try to find our way. “

Her son was home for the holidays, his mother, Fabiana Muench Casanova, said.

“He was the light in our lives. He was the most sweetest boy,” she said.

The 19-year-old was an outdoorsman.

“Sailor, surfer, hiker. He was super active,” Fabiana Casanova said

Her son went hiking with his best friend on Monday, she said, adding he had a GPS on him.

After he fell, his friend ran down the mountain to get help, she added.

Both novice and skilled hikers have died trying to hike Mt. Baldy, particularly during winter when powdery snow, ice and steep terrain combine to create dangerous conditions. Search-and-rescue teams are often kept busy throughout the winter season, when typically inexperienced hikers become stranded, injured and sometimes die on the mountain’s steep and icy terrain.

Mt. Baldy’s terrain is similar to that of Big Bear and Mt. San Gorgonio, experts say, but it attracts more people, including inexperienced hikers, because it’s closer to Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

With weather creating treacherous conditions, closures were announced for the Mt. Baldy area and nearby trails in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument through Jan. 7.

For your safety and the safety of all responders, please help all public safety agencies and avoid these treacherous conditions. Avoid these areas and all other closure areas. The areas that are open can be dangers for those that are inexperienced or not prepared for the… https://t.co/9eRIEPwhDh

— Robert Garcia (@firechiefanf) January 1, 2026

Reporter Joe Nelson contributed to this story