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

"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."

A 19-year-old hiker, Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, fell an estimated 500 feet near Devil's Backbone on Mt. Baldy while hiking with a friend. The friend called for help and provided GPS coordinates, leading rescuers to Casanova and the bodies of two other men found nearby who were not with him and remain unidentified. Windy conditions prevented helicopter recovery on Monday, and the bodies were retrieved Tuesday. Casanova was a Los Alamitos High graduate and a freshman at Santa Clara University's business school, described by family as an avid outdoorsman; the family requested privacy. Mt. Baldy presents hazardous winter terrain that often leads to stranded or injured hikers.

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