Name Released of Body Found in Vehicle on the Mesa

By edhat staff

The name of the woman who was found inside a vehicle near Thousand Steps earlier this month has been released.

Mary Madison “Mei Mei” Randolph, 20, was found dead in a vehicle in Santa Barbara’s Mesa neighborhood on Santa Cruz Blvd. around 7:00 a.m. on December 12. 

Santa Barbara Police and firefighters responded to the scene where a hazmat crew was subsequently called in. 

According to scanner traffic at the time of the incident, first responders suspect Randolph took her own life in the vehicle using a hazardous chemical mixture and notes were posted on the vehicle windows warning of toxic fumes.

Mary Madison Randolph

The death is still being investigated and there are no official details released on the circumstances around her death.

Randolph was born on February 13, 2000 in Richmond, Virginia and moved to Santa Barbara in August of 2019 where she hoped to finish her credits in community college and transfer to a University of California campus, according to her obituary.

“Mei Mei loved fiercely and brought joy to the lives of everyone around her. She was a music lover, a dedicated foodie, and a very impressive cake baker. Her infectious laugh and quirky dance moves always kept the party going, and she gave the best hugs. Mei Mei was always looking for adventure, and she ran at it head-on. When there wasn’t enough excitement, she created it. Her adventures were many, and she smiled through it all,” read the obituary.

The family asks in lieu of flowers, to send donations to Good Heart Recovery, 205 West Mission Street, Santa Barbara, California, 93101. 

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 and more resources can be found at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.