Local News
Big Bear Hotshot Firefighter Carlos Baltazar Remains Found After Four Years
After more than four years of anguish and unanswered questions, the family of Carlos Baltazar, a U.S. Forest Service firefighter with the Big Bear Hotshots, has finally received closure.
On February 22, 2025, authorities informed the family that Carlos’ remains had been discovered near the area where he originally went missing in September 2020.
His loved ones are now seeking the community’s support to provide him with the honorable funeral he deserves.
Carlos Baltazar, a committed wildland firefighter, went missing on September 20, 2020, shortly after suffering a devastating personal loss.
While battling the El Dorado Fire, his squad boss tragically passed away. Carlos, like his fellow firefighters, was deeply affected by the loss.
He returned to the barracks to prepare for the upcoming funeral services but was last seen shortly after speaking with his coworkers.
He left the barracks unexpectedly, and later that day, his vehicle was discovered crashed along Highway 18.
Concern grew when Carlos failed to contact his family, something that was deeply out of character for him.
A devoted son and father, Carlos always stayed in touch with his loved ones. When his family reported him missing, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office launched a search effort. However, after several days of searching the area near his abandoned vehicle, authorities were unable to locate him.
For years, Carlos’ family endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty, hoping for answers that never came. His 77-year-old mother, now the primary caretaker of his 14-year-old son, suffered immense grief, clinging to the hope that someday they would find Carlos.
On February 22, 2025, Carlos’ remains were finally found near the location of his disappearance. While the discovery brings much-needed closure, it also reopens wounds for a family that has endured years of heartache and unanswered questions.
Carlos was more than a firefighter—he was a selfless protector, a devoted father, a loving son, and a loyal friend. His colleagues remember him as an uplifting presence, always pushing others to be their best. He was a man of faith, dedication, and resilience, someone who put his life on the line to protect communities from devastating wildfires.
Carlos’ family is now turning to the community for help in giving him the proper funeral and memorial service he deserves. After dedicating his life to protecting others, his family wants to bring him home with the dignity and respect he earned.
“We appreciate everyone who has never forgotten about Carlos through the years and has never stopped asking about him,” the family stated. “Now, we need your help to unite and honor his memory.”
The family has set up a fundraiser to cover the costs of funeral arrangements and to support his grieving mother and son. Any donations, no matter the amount, are deeply appreciated.
Carlos Baltazar gave his strength, courage, and dedication to protecting others. Now, his family and friends hope to give him a final resting place that reflects the honor and gratitude he so rightfully deserves.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.