Missing Thousand Oaks Hiker Found Dead

Thursday February 02, 2023

     Updated--The search for the young man missing for several days in the Santa Monica Mountains west of Thousand Oaks has ended tragically.

     The Ventura County Sheriff's Office says that 22-year-old Zachary Zernik was found deceased Thursday morning.

     The Thousand Oaks resident had been missing since Saturday morning.

     After he did not show up for work Monday, his vehicle was found at the Wendy/Potrero trailhead Wednesday.

     A search began involving the Ventura County Search and Rescue team, the Ventura County Sheriff's helicopter and K-9's.

     Thursday morning about 8:52 AM, Zernik was found deceased at the base of a cliff in the Boney Mountain area.

     The authorities are now investigating to determine the circumstances surrounding his death but it is believed to be have been an accident while he was hiking in the area.