Sheriff Identifies Homicide Victim from Foxen Canyon Incident

Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
March 30, 2021

Detectives and the Coroner’s Bureau are releasing the name of the decedent from the March 7, 2021 homicide on Foxen Canyon.

He is 17-year-old Santiago Maldonado Martinez of Shandon, Ca. This investigation remains ongoing and we will update information as it becomes available for release.

Sheriff Investigating Homicide on Foxen Canyon

Update by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
March 10, 2021

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred Sunday, March 7, 2021 in the 6200-block of Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos. At approximately 6:12 p.m., Sheriff’s dispatch received a call of a single vehicle accident in the area. Fire, Medics and CHP responded to the area and quickly determined that the vehicle had not been involved in a traffic collision and that the solo occupant was deceased. Sheriff’s deputies responded, took over the investigation, closed the roadway, and requested detectives respond. Initial information was shared on the Sheriff’s Office Twitter account including the area address and road closure information.

This investigation is ongoing and there is limited information available for release at this early stage. Detectives can confirm that the deceased victim is male who was in a vehicle along the side of the road, and his death is being investigated as a homicide.

Sheriff’s detectives would like to encourage anyone with information about this case to reach out. To leave an anonymous tip by phone, you can call (805)681-4171. To leave an anonymous tip online, you submit information without trace at www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip . These tips are forwarded to Sheriff’s detectives who can follow-up on the information you provide while assuring your anonymity.

By JB86
6:35 p.m., March 7, 2021

At about 6:15 pm, Sunday, an incident was reported on Foxen Canyon, near the Fess Parker vineyard, initially as an accident, then a disturbance, finally as a man in a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Sheriffs, CHP, AMR and County Fire were dispatched. CHP was first on-scene, reporting a deceased person in a 2002 Honda minivan, a possible suicide by firearm. Medics, Fire, Cal/Star cancelled. Sheriff/Coroner investigating.

No suspects were outstanding. The vehicle comes back registered in Santa Maria.

Detectives are investigating a suspicious death in the 6200-blk of Foxen Cyn. Road, Los Olivos. Foxen Cyn will be closed at Zaca Station until further notice. Call time 6:12p.m.

— PIO Raquel Zick (@SBSOPIO) March 8, 2021