Crime & Safety
Sheriff: Murdered Biker Was Killed, Brought to Santa Cruz Mountains
Eric Garcia was not killed in the location that a hiker found him, the sheriff's office said Thursday.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the murder of a 32-year-old San Jose resident, found dead by a hiker in the summit area of the Santa Cruz Mountains on Oct. 13.
Eric Garcia, also known by his friends in the Mongols Motorcycle Club as Peeka, was a Hispanic male, 5’-9” tall, and approximately 350 lbs. He had tattoos on both forearms and his upper chest. Garcia was believed to be wearing blue jeans, a white shirt and a black leather jacket without any markings.
An autopsy revealed that Garcia was murdered, and the sheriff's office announced on Thursday that it is not believed that Garcia was killed in a different location than where he was found.
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Garcia was reported missing in September and was last seen alive on Sept. 19 at 2 a.m. at the Park Lane Lounge (5152 Moorpark Ave., San Jose) with members of the Ghost Mountain Riders Motorcycle Club.
Investigators are hoping anyone else at the bar that night might be able to come forward with more information, and have released the motorcycle club logo as a reminder to any witnesses.
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No arrests have been made in this case. Anyone with information on the incident should contact the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office at (831) 454-2311, (831) 454-2847 or Shf236@co.santa-cruz.ca.us.
The following was released by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Thursday afternoon:
Sheriff’s detectives are actively investigating this homicide and request that anyone with information, contact the Sheriff's Office.
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