Reopening the 1988 Santa Barbara Cold Case | Los Angeles News

Detectives in Santa Barbara County are reigniting their search for answers in the 1988 murder of Mitchell Garcia, aka Buster, whose remains were found in the mountains above town. Though the case initially pointed to foul play, it went cold—until now. With no new DNA or breakthroughs announced, investigators are revisiting every detail, re-interviewing witnesses, and reviewing old files in hopes a fresh perspective will unlock what was missed decades ago. It’s a long shot, but for the family and victims’ advocates, any renewed effort matters. This case is a powerful reminder that justice isn’t always served in time—and law enforcement still believes in giving unsolved mysteries a second chance. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-15/santa-barbara-county-detectives-reopen-cold-case-homicide-from-1988 More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/af62a8b9d6890709 Report issues to [email protected]. Presented by The Plant Daddies — rare specimen trees, living art, and hand-carved limestone vessels and fountains for extraordinary spaces. Showrooms in Los Angeles and Irvine. Listeners of Los Angeles News Today receive 10% off with code LANEWS10. theplantdaddies.com/lanews