Santa Barbara, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their investigation into the 1988 homicide of Mitchell “Buster” Garcia and are again asking for the public’s help as they pursue leads in the decades-old case.

Garcia was 23 years old when his skeletal remains were discovered on February 10, 1988, in the Caliente Hot Springs area of the Los Padres National Forest. An examination of the remains determined that Garcia had been killed as a result of gunshot wounds.

At the time the remains were discovered, Garcia’s identity was not immediately known. An anthropological examination provided investigators with information about the victim’s physical characteristics, and a facial reconstruction was created from the recovered skull. Investigators subsequently developed Garcia as a possible match and compared his dental records with the recovered remains, resulting in a positive identification.

Garcia, who was also known by the nickname “Buster,” had last been seen alive in August 1987. At the time of his disappearance, there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Garcia related to a crime committed in Santa Barbara, and he was facing a possible parole violation. Because friends and family believed he may have been avoiding arrest, he was not reported missing.

Before his death, “Buster” Garcia had lived at several locations within the City of Santa Barbara and had previously been incarcerated locally and in state prison.

In September 2026, Sheriff’s detectives announced they were reexamining “Buster” Garcia’s homicide and asked anyone who knew him or had information about his activities during the months leading up to his death to come forward. Detectives also re-released photographs of Garcia in hopes of reaching people who may recognize him or remember seeing or interacting with him.

Since reopening the investigation, detectives have been reviewing information and evidence developed during the original investigation while exploring newly emerging investigative methods that were not available in 1988. Significant advancements in DNA testing now allow forensic laboratories to examine biological evidence using methods that are far more sensitive than those available at the time of the original investigation, including techniques capable of developing information from aged, limited, or degraded DNA samples.

Sheriff’s detectives are also collaborating with the FBI as they continue pursuing potential leads in Garcia’s homicide. One of those leads includes arranging to interview a person of interest who is believed to be in Mexico.

More than 38 years have passed since Garcia was killed, but detectives believe there may still be people who have information about him, the people he associated with, his activities in the summer of 1987, or the circumstances surrounding his death. Even information that may have seemed insignificant at the time could be useful when considered alongside evidence and information now available to investigators.

Detectives are requesting anyone with information about Mitchell “Buster” Garcia or his death contact the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau at (805) 681-4150. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact the Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at (805) 681-4171 or email tips@sbsheriff.org.

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Posted by PIO Zick