Search efforts are still ongoing for missing actorJulian Sands. On January 13th, Sands' familyreported him missingafter he failed to return from a hike in the Mt. Baldy area of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California. Officers from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were able to locate Sands' car, but the trail then went cold, made worse by inclement weather heavily affecting the search efforts. Other than the car, authorities to date have not found a single trace of Sands.Over the weekend, the San Bernardino County Sheriff shared an update on the situation, and while nothing new was discovered, it hasn’t been for a lack of trying. They shared footage from a massive search that took place on Saturday which included dozens of volunteers using different methods to scour the area. This includes utilizing helicopters and ground crews to get a better look at areas where ground crews can’t safely reach. Lots of ground was covered, but unfortunately, no new clues were found.
“Saturday’s search included over 80 Search and Rescue volunteers, deputies, and staff,” a statement from the sheriff reads. “Their efforts were supported by two helicopters, and drone crews. Aviation resources inserted search teams into remote areas across Mount Baldy and conducted aerial search and assessments efforts. Additionally, drone crews searched areas inaccessible to ground crews.”
The statement continues, “Despite the recent warmer weather, portions of the mountain remain inaccessible due to extreme alpine conditions. Multiple areas include steep terrain and ravines, which still have 10 plus feet of ice and snow.”
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What Happened to Julian Sands?
The Sheriff’s Department also states that they’ve conducted eight searches for the actor with volunteer searcher hours surpassing 500 hours. As the Mt. Baldy area is dangerous and often leads to injuries, deaths, and disappearances of other hikers, cops say they’ve also conducted eight unrelated search and rescue operations. Despite these continued efforts, no new clues have emerged, but the search will continue “in a limited capacity” with no plans at this time to call off searching.
As Sands was an avid outdoorsman who knew that area very well, family and friends had held out hope the actor would be found safe when he was first reported missing. As the days went on, those close to Sands started to accept that the actor had most likely passed.
“He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone,” Sands' brother, Nick Sands, toldCraven Herald & Pioneerjust under two weeks later.
Nick Sands also explained how perhaps it was fitting for his brother to pass in a place he truly loved.
“When in L.A., the Mt. Baldy mountain range was his favorite place, he would go there as often as he could, Julian liked to say, ‘I have never had a holiday but I do rest occasionally,’” Nick said. “Well, he’s resting now in a place he would truly approve of. It was the hills and mountains where Julian really revived, hiking in the Yorkshire Dales leading on to him climbing iconic mountains like the Matterhorn and the Eiger, technically challenging but high reward.”
Sands was known for appearing in dozens of films, including titles likeThe Killing Fields,Warlock,Arachnophobia,Boxing Helena, andLeaving Las Vegas. He also appeared in TV shows like24andSmallville, among many others.
