Yosemite National Park rangers find remains of missing Santa Barbara man
UPDATE
The remains of an 18-year-old Santa Barbara man who went missing in Yosemite National Park have been found.
Yosemite National Park rangers have identified the remains of Gerardo Cruz Hernandez.
Hernandez was last seen at Glacier Point on Nov. 22. Park rangers, search dogs, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter took part the ongoing search.
They spotted the remains in the area on Tuesday night and recovered them on Wednesday afternoon.
The teens family was notified.
Friends said he graduated Dos Pueblos High and was studying accounting at Santa Barbara City College.
They described him as someone who always had a smile for his friends.
A family friend set up an online account for funeral expenses, for more information visit Go Fund Me.
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ORIGINAL STORY
An 18-year-old Santa Barbara man is believed to be missing in Yosemite National Park.
Gerardo Cruz Hernandez was last seen Wednesday in Santa Barbara. His vehicle was discovered later that day in Yosemite National Park at Glacier Point which is about 50 miles from the park entrance.
“We got word he was missing through his family that got word he was coming up here,” said Ranger Scott Gediman, Yosemite National Park public affairs officer.
Hernandez is Hispanic, 5-foot 7-inches, and 120 pounds. He has dark hair and brown eyes and has a tattoo on his right wrist. Yosemite National Park officials say he was last seen wearing white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers.
Authorities believe the teen traveled alone and entered through the south gate.
“We searched trails. We search the bottom of slopes. We searched all around,” said Ranger Gediman.
A snow and rain storm hampered the search on Sunday, but crews restarted the search Monday afternoon.
Authorities have not released details regarding what was found in the missing teen’s car and his vehicle’s description.
Authorities are asking for anyone who may have been at Glacier Point on Wednesday, or anyone who has information about Hernandez’s location, to contact Yosemite National Park ranger dispatch at (209) 379-1992.
