Superman costume belonging to Montecito mudslide victim uncovered

Search teams continue to dig up items from the Montecito Mudslide.

Just recently, buried in the mud, a Superman costume was found.

Crews found the old item belonging to 17-year-old Jack Cantin, one of two mudslide victims whose bodies have never been found.

“This was Jack’s Superman costume,” said Kim Cantin, Jack’s mother. “Jack was probably 4 or 5 when he wore this. He had a cape, and he would run around the house as a superhero. I saved it as a treasure because he was my Superman.”

More than a year and a half after the mudslide, search crews are still looking for 17 year-old Jack Cantin and two-year-old Lydia Sutthithepa. Jack’s mom, Kim searches for him every other week.

“I think I am going to know when we searched enough, but in my heart of hearts I think he is out here,” said Cantin. “I do not think he went to the ocean. It doesn’t logically make sense that my daughter and I who were all in the house were found within 200 yards of our property, and Jack was also in the house, so I kind of think he is within 400 yards of the property.”

Kim, alongside volunteers from the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade, found Jack’s costume in a creekbed near Casa Dorinda. Even after all this time items are still found.

“We decided to go near the creek because it was a very wet winter, and the creek, if we remember, was really full, and so we couldn’t safely get in until just about a week ago,” said Cantin. “We knew by the size of the creek bed there is still a lot of debris out there.”

As Kim finds a little piece of Jack, she wants to remind contractors, landscapers and homeowners to be mindful there are still two missing children out there.

“It will really help for me get some closure, maybe,” said Cantin. “More importantly, some dignity to lay Jack next to his father and I know Lydia’s mom and grandmother would also love to find that little baby.”

If anyone finds personal items in Montecito please contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office.