Bodies found in abandoned car in Santa Cruz Mountains investigated as homicide

LOS GATOS, Calif. - The discovery of two people found dead inside an abandoned car in the Santa Cruz Mountains is being investigated as a double homicide, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Bodies found along highway

What we know:

The bodies were found around 6:53 p.m. Monday in a vehicle along State Route 35 near Castle Rock State Park in Los Gatos, CHP officials said.

Local outlet KSBW reported that the victims were two men whose bodies were found in the back of a pickup truck. The CHP has not confirmed the exact location of the bodies.

Processing tragedy

What they're saying:

One of the victims was identified on Thursday by family and friends as a carpenter and father of four, named Colter. 

"Colter was a great guy," said friend, Janelle Sanford. "He was a great dad, he was a great husband, he was a great everything."

Sanford said the second victim was a friend of Colter and suggested he may have drawn Colter into a dangerous situation.

"It seems like he got Colter caught up in things he shouldn’t have been," she said. "He had problems with people, and he wanted Colter to come be his muscle and back him up."

Sanford said Colter had previously been in trouble with the law, but had been turning his life around.

"He was trying to do the right thing with the wrong people," she said. "Trying to get people to be righteous and do right."

What's next:

Investigators are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death and the victims’ injuries.

Early in the investigation, officials said the deaths did not appear to be the result of a crash.

Investigators have not provided information on a possible suspect or the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Authorities have not officially released the identities of the victims.