SAN LUIS OBISPO—The body of Olivia Gonzalez was found and identified in San Luis Obispo on Tuesday, January 3, officials confirmed.
Gonzales, 20, and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Brian Fernandez, both from North Hollywood, went missing after leaving for a road trip to Big Sur with their two dogs on December 23. The couple was expected to return on December 25.
California Highway Patrol officers, a CHP helicopter, and Cal Fire responded about a mile south of Ragged Point along State Highway 1 at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to CHP Officer Patrick Seebart, a “very mangled” tan sedan was spotted by the helicopter crew, approximately 325 feet down a rocky, steep embankment. Gonzalez and Fernandez were said to be driving a tan Honda Accord. The sedan’s make and model have yet to be identified by authorities.
Officials found Gonzalez’s body and the body of what was described as a brown Labrador mix dog about 15 feet from the car, along the rocks near the shoreline, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla said.
Crews reached the vehicle around 8:30 p.m. after having to rappel down the embankment. Gonzalez’s body was “in bad shape,” Seebart said.
Search and rescue, along with dive teams are still searching for Fernandez’s body and the body of the couples second dog. A Gofundme page has been created to help fund Gonzalez’s funeral.
