In early Jan. 2023, Julian Sands was reported missing by his wife, Evgenia Citkowitz, after the British actor failed to return home following a hike in San Gabriel Mountains near the Mount Baldy area in Los Angeles, California.
As previously mentioned on We Got This Covered, Sands, described as an experienced hiker who loved the great outdoors, was reported missing around the evening of Jan. 13. Immediately after the missing person’s report was filed, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search party for the Smallville star. Sands’ son Henry would join on the later half of the search. Their efforts, however, were cut short because of the avalanche risk and hazardous trail conditions. At the time, helicopters and drones examined the area, hoping to find Sands but came back unsuccessful.
Days later, The Independent reported that pings from Sands’ phone stopped, and what appeared to be the 65-year-old’s car was located during a search but was ultimately towed on Jan. 18. Since then, the search for Sands is still ongoing.
This week, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department released a statement to Deadline regarding their current developments in the search for Sands. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department told the publication on Feb. 18 that a group of West Valley Search and Rescue team and Fontana Sheriff’s Station “conducted a ground search” near the last location Sands was reported to be. While mentioning that despite their continued efforts, Sands wasn’t located, the spokesperson explained,
“On Saturday, February 18, 2023, over 20 members of the Fontana Sheriff’s Station and the West Valley Search and Rescue team conducted a ground search in the Mt. Baldy area. The crew members focused on the area where the California Highway Patrol’s RECCO device hit on a possible electronic device on January 25th. Unfortunately, nothing was found that would lead to the discovery of Mr. Sands.”
Later, the spokesperson shared that because of the upcoming snowstorm quickly approaching the Mount Baldy area, the search for The Killing Fields star will be delayed for “some time.” Toward the end of the statement, the spokesperson expressed that the sheriff’s department’s overall mission is to “bring closure to” his family when they can resume the search. They said,
“Our goal is to bring closure to the family of Mr. Sands and when conditions permit, we will continue the search.”
This update comes around the same time Sands’ close friend and his The Killing Fields co-star John Malkovich opened up about the actor and his disappearance while appearing at the Berlin Film Festival. The 69-year-old expressed how sad the entire situation is and shared details regarding the pair’s relationship. Malkovich stated,
“Julian and I were very, very close. I’m a godfather to his first son from his first marriage to Sarah, who I know very well. I introduced him to his second wife, and we have been close since we met in 1983 on the set of The Killing Fields. It’s a very sad event.”
Since then, no additional information regarding Sands’ disappearance has been released to the public.