Identity of Decedent Found in Montecito Released

Santa Barbara – The Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identity of the decedent located on Hot Springs Trail on August 18, 2018 around 6:00 p.m. in Montecito.  The decedent is 43-year-old Wayne Stuart Habell of Newhall.  The cause and manner of death is a suicide, by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Next of kin has been notified.

Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team Locates a Male Decedent on Hot Springs Trail

Montecito – On August 17, 2018, around 2:00 p.m., Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Hot Springs Trailhead on a report of a suspicious vehicle that was parked near the trailhead since Monday, August 13, 2018. The solo male occupant was last seen walking up the trailhead. The vehicle is registered to Wayne Habell, of Newhall, who was listed as an at-risk missing person out of Los Angeles County. (For further information regarding the circumstances of the missing person report, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.)

Sheriff’s deputies, the Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit and Santa Barbara Search and Rescue team members responded and began an extensive search of the area.  The search teams were unable to locate Mr. Habell. Due to darkness, the search was called off until the early morning hours on August 18, 2018, when Search and Rescue and the Air Support Unit resumed their search for Mr. Habell.

Today, August 18, 2018 around 6:00 p.m., a male decedent was located in the canyon.  The body was taken to the Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Office for further investigation.  At this time, the Coroner’s Office is unable to confirm the identity of the decedent.  The cause and manner of death are still under investigation.  No further details will be released at this time