A man was found dead in his parked car last week on Channel Drive near Butterfly Beach and the Biltmore Hotel.
James Victor, a 62-year-old Santa Barbara resident, had been in the silver Honda CRV for at least three and a half hours Thursday morning before passersby called authorities expressing concern. A Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched on a welfare check at around 12:30 p.m. and was forced to break through the driver’s window to reach Victor, who was declared dead at the scene. Family members had not reported him missing.
The cause of Victor’s death remains unclear pending the results of a toxicology report, but Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Sgt. Mark Williams said there is no evidence suggesting it was suspicious. “At this point it looks like it could be a natural death,” he said.
Victor was a regular fixture of the Cabrillo Art Walk and an avid paraglider. He leaves behind a wife and teenage son.