EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT ACTOR JULIAN SANDS' DISAPPEARANCE AS HE'S CONFIRMED DEAD

Julian Sands was confirmed dead five months after he was reported missing by his wife in January 2023

Actor Julian Sands was confirmed dead five months after he disappeared while hiking in Southern California's Mount Baldy in January.

Sands, who was 65, was first reported missing on Jan. 13, 2023, by his wife Eugenia Citkowitz after he set out to hike the San Bernardino County-area mountain.

Five months later, hikers found human remains that were confirmed to be Sands'.

In July, Sands' death was ruled "undetermined." A public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said that this ruling "is common when dealing with cases of this type."

Searches for the actor's whereabouts were ongoing for more than five months after he went missing and were impacted by significant amounts of inclement weather across the region at the time.

On Feb. 10, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department public information officer Gloria Huerta told PEOPLE that "we remain hopeful but know the outcome may not be what we would like" regarding ongoing searches for the actor.

The actor's disappearance gained international attention, with family and friends like John Malkovich speaking out about their relationship with Sands.

Here's everything to know about Julian Sands' disappearance.

He was reported missing by his wife in January 2023

The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department Corporal Nathan Campos confirmed to PEOPLE that Sands was originally reported missing in the area surrounding Mount Baldy "around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13" by his wife.

Related: Julian Sands' Family Issues Statement as Search Enters 11th Day and Another Hiker Goes Missing

Initial search crews were pulled out of the area due to inclement weather after just one day into the search, a problem that persisted in the search for the English actor for months later.

In the days after Sands' disappearance, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department advised in a news release shared on Facebook that weather on the mountain was "adverse and extremely dangerous" amid high winds, severe storms across the state and multiple fatalities of other hikers on the mountain.

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Eleven days after the actor disappeared, the department shared a statement on Twitter in which it said the department would "continue to utilize the resources" it has at its disposal.

The Sands family said they were grateful for the search teams following his disappearance

Along with the department's Jan. 23, 2023 update, it shared a statement from the family of Sands who extended their gratitude to the "heroic search teams" who continued to aid in the search for the missing actor.

"We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support," the statement read. "Our heartfelt thanks to the compassionate members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department who are coordinating the search for our beloved Julian."

On Jan. 24, the actor's brother Nick Sands told the U.K.'s Craven Herald & Pioneer that he believed Julian, who he said he was scheduled to meet with for a family event on Jan. 30, is "gone."

"He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone," he told the outlet at the time. "However sibling rivalry being what it is, it would be just like him to walk out of there and prove me wrong."

RELATED VIDEO: Actor Julian Sands Missing After Going Hiking on Deadly Mount Baldy in California

Sands' family and friends reflected on his life in the weeks after his disappearance

In the January interview, Nick noted to the Craven Herald & Pioneer that the area surrounding Mt. Baldy "was [Julian's] favorite place" when he was in Los Angeles. The actor was an active hiker before his disappearance, Nick said.

Actor Malkovich brought further attention to Sands' disappearance on Feb. 20 when he spoke about his friendship with the actor ahead of the premiere of their film at the Berlin Film Festival.

"I'm a godfather to his first son from his first marriage to Sarah, who I know very well," the actor explained to reporters, according to Deadline. "I introduced him to his second wife, and we have been close since we met in 1993 on the set of The Killing Fields."

"It's a very sad event," Malkovich said of Sands' disappearance at the time, according to the outlet.

Sands was confirmed dead over five months after he went missing

Human remains found in June 2023 by civilians hiking were confirmed to be Sands' by the San Fernando Sheriff's Department.

"The identification process for the body located on Mt. Baldy on June 24, 2023, has been completed and was positively identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood. The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results," the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department said in a statement. "We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to try to locate Mr. Sands."

The following month, Sands' death was ruled "undetermined," a ruling that a public information officer for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said "is common when dealing with cases of this type."

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2023-03-30T20:41:05Z dg43tfdfdgfd