Hikers have stumbled upon human remains in the mountainous wilderness of southern California, near the area where British actor Julian Sands vanished five months ago, local law enforcement says.
Authorities confirmed the discovery was made on Saturday morning near Mount Baldy, The Guardian reports. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department stated the remains are set to be transferred to the coroner’s office for formal identification in the forthcoming week.
Additional information regarding the discovery remains sparse.
Julian Sands, a passionate hiker and mountaineer aged 65, was last seen on January 13.
The actor had embarked on an excursion to the Mount Baldy peak - a towering monolith soaring over 10,000 feet, nestled to the east of Los Angeles. The area was subsequently subjected to harsh winter storms.
On Friday, the family of the missing actor, known for his acclaimed performance in the 1985 movie A Room With a View, issued their first statement since his unsettling disappearance.
"We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer," the family's touching tribute read.
Married to journalist Evgenia Citkowitz, Sands has three adult children and is recognized for his roles in prominent films like Leaving Las Vegas, Warlock, and The Killing Fields. On the small screen, he is also known to fans for his roles in TV series like 24 and Smallville.
On June 17, an extensive search operation, the eighth since Sands' disappearance, failed to locate the actor.
His car, a snow-covered Volvo, was found near Mount Baldy during an early phase of the search. However, the rescue mission was impeded by harsh weather conditions, sparking fears of avalanches, and had to be halted in March.
In their statement, the Sands family expressed their deep gratitude for the tireless efforts of the search teams.
Nick Sands, Julian's brother, disclosed to the Telegraph & Argus that Mount Baldy was Julian's favorite LA spot. Yet, as time passed, he confessed growing fear that his brother might not be found.
"He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone," Nick Sands sorrowfully expressed, per LBC. "However, sibling rivalry being what it is, it would be just like him to walk out of there and prove me wrong."
Our thoughts go out to Sands' loved ones at this difficult time.
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