Body found in Santa Monica Mountains identified as missing man

Five days after he was last seen by his family, Zachary Zernik, 22, of Thousand Oaks, was confirmed dead on Thursday after his body was found in the Santa Monica Mountains, according to the city medical examiner’s office. Ventura County.

Zernik was reported missing after failing to report for work Monday, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said. His vehicle was located Wednesday near a trail in Thousand Oaks, leading to a search in the Santa Monica Mountains.

On his Instagram page, Zernik describes himself as follows: “Moorpark College Wrestler. Forklift driver. Boss.”

In his latest post, he wore jeans and work boots and posed next to a table adorned with the initials of Moorpark College. Comments from friends and mourners poured in.

In a statement on Twitter, the sheriff’s office said it found Zernik’s body around 9 a.m. Thursday near Boney Mountain. The death appears to be accidental, with “no evidence of crime or foul play”, the sheriff’s office said.

Zernik’s cause of death will be determined by an autopsy by the medical examiner’s office.