Coroner: Couple found near Big Bear died from suicide

A 29-year-old Big Bear resident and his 27-year-old girlfriend from Santa Ana died by apparent suicide, the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office said Wednesday, March 25.

Both suffered gunshot wounds, a news release said. The manner of the man’s death was undetermined, the release said, but detectives “discovered evidence which was consistent with ….suicide.”

During the initial investigation, in which the bodies were discovered in Fawnskin near Big Bear, a gun registered to the man was found nearby.

About 2:20 a.m. on Feb. 3, deputies found a vehicle in the parking area near Cougar Crest Trail that belonged to the woman, who had been reported missing when she didn’t show up to work. She was last seen Jan. 29 with her boyfriend, who had been reported missing by his father. At about 1:30 p.m., a man and woman were found dead approximately one-half mile into the forest.