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SUV lifted out of ravine in probe of Simi pair's deaths
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Karen Quincy Loberg / Star staff Nelson McKay of Summit Helicopters approaches an SUV that his company retrieved Sunday from a ravine off Malibu Canyon Road.
Photos by Karen Quincy Loberg / Star staff
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More from Local NewsTraffic on Malibu Canyon Road was stopped in both directions Sunday morning as a T-58 helicopter lifted a battered black Jeep Grand Cherokee from 700 feet down a ravine.
The operation, led by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, was part of the ongoing investigation into the deaths of a Simi Valley couple, which investigators are treating as homicides.
Robert Callender, 63, and his wife Barbara, 62, were reported missing last year, about a week after they were last seen on July 28.
The Callenders' vehicle was discovered by a group of people hired to count fish in Malibu Creek, Sheriff's Department Reserve Capt. Kevin Ryan said. They wrote down the license plate number and reported it to investigators, who ran the plates and found that the car was linked to a missing persons report.
Investigators found the Callenders' bodies near the 1999 sport utility vehicle in the ravine off Malibu Canyon Road about two miles above Pacific Coast Highway on Sept. 7, 2007.
Initially, investigators believed that the couple died in a traffic accident.
"We have physical evidence that shows it was a homicide," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lt. Liam Gallagher said Sunday, adding that investigators "have developed other outside information" that it was a homicide.
Gallagher declined to elaborate on the evidence and said he could not confirm or deny and had no information on media reports that a third person was in the vehicle.
The Callenders lived in Simi Valley for more than 30 years. Robert Callender owned an information technology support company in Burbank called ISSG, which closed shortly after the couple disappeared.
Reserve officers with the sheriff's search and rescue team from the Lost Hills station began assembling on a turnout above the crash site, about 1.5 miles south of the Malibu tunnel, shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday.
The operation could not get under way until clouds, which floated above and through the ravine, cleared and the helicopter could fly safely.
As the skies cleared, using a winch and belay, two members of the search and rescue team escorted a crime scene investigator down the steep embankment. Another investigator filmed the removal of the SUV from the Sheriff's Department helicopter.
The vehicle was airlifted to a dirt turnout about a mile down the creek. It will be analyzed and processed by investigators.
Gallagher said a cause of death has not been determined at this time.
Investigators are asking anyone who might have seen Robert and Barbara Callender or their vehicle between July 30 and Sept. 7, 2007, to call Detective Dameron Peyton at 323-890-5548 or Detective M. Barron at 323-890-5605.
Posted by ca4ever on October 6, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I cant wait to hear what evidence they have. I feel very sorry for the family
Posted by jeffreys49 on October 6, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
missing a year the battered SUV at the bottom of a canyon that no one can see and the bodies are still there ??? Homicide?? will be watching this one
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on October 6, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The Callenders' vehicle was discovered by a group of people hired to count fish in Malibu Creek"
WTF? Where do you apply for that job?
Posted by ca4ever on October 6, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jeffreys49- the bodies werent still there. The bodies had been discovered after they went missing. They are now only pulling up the vehicle because they now consider it a homicide where last year they thought it was an accident.
Posted by beachgurl on October 6, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am totally confused as to how a year later they have physical evidence of homocide...and a year later they are retrieving the vehicle? I am just confused.
I don't even feel smart enough to count the fish.
Posted by Split on October 6, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SO why did they leave the jeep down there for a year this makes no sense what so ever...
Posted by Ironhorse on October 6, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, maybe they had to wait a year before they could afford the helicopter; I bet that operation cost the LASD at least $100,000.
Posted by ca4ever on October 6, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They do not typically pull cars out of deep revines unless it is necessary. It costs too much money. If you have ever traveld on Balcom canyon if you look down you will notice several cars at the bottom. they just leave them there.
The bodies were found near the car because they flew off a cliff and obviously their bodies did not stay in the car. That is how their bodies were found NEAR the car.
Now they have new evidence (maybe someone came forward) and told them info about it being a muder. They have probably been working on the case since it happened but were just now able to prove something, therefore they might think they could get additionla evidence form the vehicle, therfore spening the extra money to pull the car from the revine. I hope this helps those confused people.
Also, last year when they were missing, this website was FILLED with people making claims that they knew something so obviously most of them were telling the truth
Posted by bugmenot on October 6, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i believe they were scattered because of coyotes as well. the evidence i heard of was that they were evidence to suggest another person was occupying the car.
Posted by BabyzDaddy_01 on October 6, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All speculation of course: I bet they have a suspect in mind and have found evidence linking that person to being in the car, clothing, hat or other personal property. Doesn't seem like it was random if so many people suspected it back a year ago. Usually, it's the alibis that don't check out that warrant further investigation into possible suspects. All speculation of course.
Posted by Thinkbeforeyoupost on October 6, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is real interesting is that when this article was printed a couple of days ago, the daughter of the couple said that she had no information at all and that she was completely in the dark. Why would investigators keep the family in the dark? If it were my parents I would be demanding answers!!!
Posted by mamadof3 on October 6, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it was Mr.Greene, in the library with the candlestick!
Posted by Latina805 on October 6, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember this article, and yes...people were saying they felt it was murder etc. I wonder if there were people coming forward and if the investigation was obviously still open why didn't they pull the car out right away. I would think it's better to spend the money and pull the car out of the ravine right away in case it can be a homicide. Wouldn't have their insurance company covered the cost of the vehicle being pulled out?
I guess I"m a little confused too. I mean if people were saying on a message Board that they knew it was murder or the suspician was there you would think the police department would have acknowledged that and to be safe pulled the vehicle.
I guess it's got to do more with detective work and money...It amazes me how everything always leads to money....How tragic for the family to have to relieve this all over again and see the vehicle in this state. It can only bring bad memories. It should have been pulled out a year ago.
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