February 21, 2024 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office officials report that an at-risk missing man has been located and was sadly found deceased. On Monday, February 19, 2024, at approximately 7:38 p.m., 86-year-old Peter Knudsen Miller was reported missing by his family after they discovered the truck he drove away in was stuck in the Maria Ygnacia creek crossing in the 5000-block of Via Alba.  Miller had mobility issues and was not inside the truck.

When deputies arrived, they found Miller’s pick-up truck swept 90 degrees on the roadway, parallel with the current of Maria Ygnacia Creek. Deputies, a Sheriff’s K-9-unit, County Fire and Search and Rescue responded and searched the area for Miller to no avail.

On Tuesday, February 20, 2024,  deputies and Search and Rescue returned to the area and at approximately 9:00 a.m., they located Miller, deceased in the Maria Ygnacia Creek south of Cathedral Oaks between Ribera Drive and Poinsettia Way.

The cause and manner of death is pending further investigation and could take up to 8 weeks.

Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office