California Highway Patrol Investigates Double Homicide in Santa Cruz Mountains

Two bodies found in an abandoned pickup truck near Castle Rock State Park have been confirmed as homicide victims, with one preliminarily identified as Sean Pfeffer.

• The bodies were discovered on Monday, March 24, 2025, in a pickup truck abandoned on Highway 35 near Oak Ridge Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
• The California Highway Patrol has classified the case as a double homicide based on autopsy findings from the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office.
• One victim has been preliminarily identified as 45-year-old Sean Pfeffer of Boulder Creek, though official confirmation is still pending.
• Investigators have ruled out a vehicle crash as the cause of death but have not yet identified any suspects or motives.
• The secluded location near Castle Rock State Park poses challenges for the ongoing investigation, with further details about the second victim and circumstances still unavailable.

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