Who was Julian Sands? Inside eerie death after remains were found in 2023

It’s been three years since British actor Julian Sands shockingly went missing in Southern California, creating a sensational police investigation that ended tragically.

Sands disappeared in the area of Mount Baldy — which is notoriously treacherous for hikers — on Jan. 13, 2023. His wife, Evgenia Citkowitz, reported him missing that same day.

After a months-long search effort, Sands’ body was found by local hikers on June 24, 2023.

Three years later, there are still questions about the late actor and how he passed.

Here’s everything you need to know about Julian Sands and his death.

Who was Julian Sands?

Julian Sands was a British actor with over 100 film and TV credits.

Born in Otley, England in 1958, Sands first significant acting role was as journalist Jon Swain in the 1984 film “The Killing Fields.”

His other notable movies include “A Room With a View,” “The Doctor and the Devils,” “Gothic,” “Warlock,” “Arachnophobia,” “Leaving Las Vegas,” “Ocean’s Thirteen” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”

On television, Sands appeared in “24” in 2006, “Smallville” in 2009 and 2010, and “Dexter” in 2013. He also voiced DeFalco in the “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” video game in 2012.

Sands was nominated for “Outstanding Solo Performance” at the 2013 Drama Desk Awards for his theatrical performance in “A Celebration of Harold Pinter.”

His final acting role was in the 2024 film “The Last Breath,” which he filmed before his disappearance and death.

When did Julian Sands go missing?

On Jan. 13, 2023, Sands was reported missing by his wife after he went to hike California’s Mount Baldy.

The mountain was Sands’ “favorite place” in Los Angeles, his brother Nick told “Craven Herald & Pioneer.”

Days after Sands’ disappearance, the San Bernardino County sheriff’s department sent a warning out to Mount Baldy hikers.

“Due to the high winds, the snow has turned to ice making hiking extremely dangerous,” the department wrote in a Facebook post. “Teams have responded to 14 rescue missions on Mt Baldy and in the surrounding area. These rescue missions have been for lost, stranded and/or injured hikers. Sheriff’s Search and Rescue efforts are often hampered by poor weather along with dangerous avalanche conditions.”

The search for Sands lasted five months.

According to the LA Times, the county sheriff’s office conducted eight land and air searches, totaling more than 500 hours and costing over $100,000, after Sands was reported missing.

The final search was conducted June 17, 2023 — one week before his remains were found.

Where was Julian Sands found?

On June 24, 2023, hikers contacted the Fontana Sheriff’s Station after they discovered human remains in the Mount Baldy wilderness, which were later identified as Sands’.

The remains were found in a flat area of Mount Baldy known as Goode Canyon.

Officials determined he was likely to be in Goode Canyon after his cellphone last pinged from a ridge on the Baldy Bowl trail.

Hiker Bill Dwyer told the LA Times that they spotted the actor after noticing his boots, a trekking pole, a pile of dark winter clothing and a wallet with Sands’ driver’s license inside.

“It was surreal,” Dwyer said.

The hikers revealed that Sands’ remains blended into the landscape, making him hard to locate.

They also said Sands’ bones were scattered — likely by wild animals. But it’s also possible his remains were pushed into the area by avalanches or melting snow.

Sands, according to the hikers, did not have a backpack, a helmet or an ice axe with him when his body was found.

How did Julian Sands die?

Sands’ official cause of death was ruled as “undetermined” by the coroner.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department told People that the death was ruled “undetermined due to the condition of the body and this is common when dealing with cases of this type.”

The Los Angeles Times reported that it’s possible Sands died of a fall or was the victim of an avalanche.

Julian Sands’ family

Sands was married to Citkowitz from 1990 until his death. The couple shared daughters Natalya, 29, and Imogen, 26.

He also had a son, Henry, 40, with his first wife, British journalist and author Sarah Sands, whom he was married to from 1984 to 1987.

Sands’ family issued a public statement regarding the search efforts for Sands just three days before his remains were found.

“We are deeply grateful to the search teams and coordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian,” the family said via the San Bernardino County sheriff’s X account.