Human remains found near a search site are confirmed to have been those of missing actor Julian Sands.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to the PA news agency, ITV News reports.
The 65-year-old British actor - who is best known for his roles in Ocean's Thirteen, Arachnophobia, 24, and A Room With A View - went missing in January this year while on a hike on Mount Baldy in California.
His remains were found in the San Gabriel mountains in southern California.
A statement released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department on Tuesday said, via Sky News: "The identification process for the body located on Mt. Baldy on 24 June, 2023, has been completed and was positively identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood.
"The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results.
"We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to try to locate Mr Sands."
At the time of his shock disappearance, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office stated that they would be searching the area around the popular Baldy Bowl trail, which is 4.5 miles long and ascends 3,900 feet to the highest summit in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Soon after the search began, authorities were forced to suspend it due to avalanche threats, with search efforts continuing via the use of drones.
According to reports from the Independent, Sands' three adult children - son Henry from his previous marriage to journalist Sarah Harvey and daughters Imogen and Natalya with his wife Evgenia Citkowitz - were part of the ground search to locate their missing father.
Earlier this year, California was hit with a series of winter storms, including mudslides in Montecito, as well as flooding and even snowfall. The Mount Baldy area, where Sands had been hiking, saw 14 search and rescue missions in the weeks leading up to the actor's disappearance, with two hikers dying on the mountain.
Over the weekend, hikers climbing the same mountain Sands had been on six months ago made a grim discovery after finding a set of human remains. Authorities confirmed the discovery on Saturday morning, per The Guardian. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department stated the remains were set to be transferred to the coroner’s office for formal identification.
Other than this, additional information regarding the remains has been sparse.
As previously reported, the family of the missing actor issued their first statement since his unsettling disappearance, saying: "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."
Nick Sands, Julian's brother, told the Telegraph & Argus that Mount Baldy was his brother's favorite LA spot, adding (via LBC): "He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone. 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' family, friends, and fans at this time.
