Authorities Find Body of College Student Missing in Southern California Mountains

A dive team recovered the 22-year-old’s body from the shoreline Monday morning.
Authorities Find Body of College Student Missing in Southern California Mountains
UCSB student Tyler Prentiss. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office
Jill McLaughlin
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Authorities have found the body of a 22-year-old Santa Barbara County man who went missing in the early morning hours of May 17 while vacationing with friends at Big Bear Lake.

Tanner Prentiss was at the lake for the weekend, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Big Bear Lake station.

After an extensive search by deputies, the sheriff’s dive team located Prentiss’s body in the water near Pine Knot Marina at about 10:23 a.m. Monday, according to the sheriff’s substation.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tanner’s family, friends, and all those who are affected by his loss,” the sheriff’s station said in a statement Monday. “The family is requesting privacy as they navigate through this tragic incident.”

Investigators followed up on information gathered from people who last saw the man, the sheriff’s office reported.

“No foul play was indicted, and the Coroner’s Office has assumed the investigation,” the sheriff’s substation reported.

Local media reported that Prentiss was an economics and sociology student at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

He did not return to his rental cabin after going out for the evening with friends, authorities reported Sunday. He was last seen at about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday.

“Tanner possibly walked on Village Drive northbound toward Big Bear Boulevard,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement Sunday.

He was last seen wearing a black hoodie and jeans.

Big Bear Lake, at about 6,800 feet in altitude in the San Bernardino National Forest east of Los Angeles, is a popular vacation destination for locals.

Prentiss’ grandmother, Marilyn Taylor, announced the news in a Facebook post Monday.

“It is with Great Sorrow that we let everyone know that Tanner has been found and is deceased,” Taylor wrote. “Bless all of you who have supported this family during this time and the time we are about to share in the near future.

“Tanner was the funny guy, always smiling, tons of friends, charismatic, responsible and a really good person,” she added. “This loss is more than we can bear at this time.”

Many residents of Big Bear and others sent prayers and condolences to Taylor and left comments.

The small community of residents at Big Bear was hoping for a better outcome, according to social media posts.

“Stuff like this [doesn’t] just happen in Big Bear. It doesn’t make sense to me,” read one post on the Big Bear community Facebook page.

Jill McLaughlin
Jill McLaughlin
Author
Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.